XN000022-1983-03-25 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983

1983

ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING TO BE TESTED

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO TEST A SYSTEM OF ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING THAT COULD CHANGE THE FACE OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG.

PROPOSALS FOR A PILOT STAGE TO BE SET UP WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL LAST WEEK AND THE NECESSARY FUNDS WERE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TWO DAYS AGO.

IF A DECISION IS TAKEN SUBSEQUENTLY TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SYSTEM, HONG KONG WILL BE A WORLD PIONEER IN TACKLING ROAD CONGESTION BY THIS METHOD.

THE OBJECT OF ROAD PRICING IS, BY SETTING CHARGES FOR THE USE OF ROADS AT BUSY LOCATIONS AT PEAK HOURS, TO REDUCE THE MUMBER OF TRIPS AND THUS TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND FACILITATE SATISFACTORY TRAFFIC FLOW. GOODS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING SERIOUS CONGESTION, AS CAN PRIVATE MOTOR ISTS ACCORDING TO THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PAY.

+CHARGING FOR THE USE OF A ROAD, THEREFORE, DOES NOT PREVENT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM OWNING A VEHICLE, NOR FROM USING IT,+ MR SCOTT POINTED OUT. IT LEAVES HIM TO CHOOSE, ON A FINANCIAL BASIS, WHEN AND WHERE TO USE IT, AND TO COMPARE IT WITH OTHER MEANS OF TRAVELLING, +

THE SYSTEM INVOLVES THE FITTING OF ALL VEHICLES, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH MAY NOT BE CHARGED, WITH AN ELECTRONIC NUMBER

IT IS PLATE (ENP) ABOUT THE SIZE OF A VIDEO CASSETTE TAPE. DESIGNED SO THAT IT IS SIMPLE TO FIT, ROBUST AND TAMPER-PROOF.

UNDER THE ROAD SURFACE AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, ELECTRONIC LOOPS ARE BURIED WHICH BROADCAST A BEAM AT THE ELECTRONIC NUMBER PLATE OF ANY VEHICLE PASSING OVER IT. THE ENP RETURNS TO THE LOOP ENCODED INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE WHICH IS TRANSMITTED TO A CENTRAL COMPUTER, TOGETHER WITH THE TIME AND DATE.

THE APPROPRIATE FEE IS RECORDED ON THE VEHICLE'S ACCOUNT AND BILLS ARE PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT MONTHLY. CHARGES CAN VARY FROM NIL UPWARDS DEPENDING ON WHERE AND WHEN A DRIVER USES HIS VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM IS SIMILAR TO THAT OPERATED BY UTILITY COMPANIES, AND IF A DRIVER WISHES TO QUERY HIS ACCOUNT HE MAY OBTAIN A DETAILED STATEMENT OF EVERY CHARGE.

AT EACH CHARGING POINT WHERE A LOOP IS LOCATED THERE IS A DISPLAY UNIT SHOWING THE CURRENT CHARGE FOR THAT POINT AND FOR PARTICULAR TYPES OF VEHICLES.

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