Electronic Road Pricing(ERP)

What is ERP? 

Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is an electronic system of road pricing based on a pay-as-you-use principle. It is designed to be a fair system as motorists are charged when they use the road during peak hours. Road pricing serves as an effective tool to manage traffic congestion and helps to internalise the external costs of driving, i.e. the impact on other road users and the environmental impacts, so that motorists are more aware of the true costs of motoring.  ERP has been effective in maintaining an optimal speed range of 45 to 65 km/h for expressways and 20 to 30 km/h for arterial roads. 

How it works? 

The ERP system uses a dedicated short-range radio communication system to deduct ERP charges from CashCards. These are inserted in the In-vehicle Units (IUs) of vehicles before each journey.

Each time vehicles pass through a gantry when the system is in operation, the ERP charges will be automatically deducted.

Aim 

The pay-as-you-use principle of ERP makes motorists more aware of the true cost of driving. This way, road usage can be optimised.

	Charges are levied on a per-pass basis and rates are set based on traffic conditions at the pricing points.
	A motorist is encouraged to decide whether to drive, when to drive and where to drive.
	He may choose a different route, mode of transport, time of travel, or not travel at all.
	Those who choose to pay and stay on the road will enjoy a smoother ride. The ERP system provides a targeted solution for congestion pricing by allowing the authorities to pin-point specific congestion spots and vary the congestion charge according to prevailing traffic patterns. Therefore, the charges can either increase or decrease according to the demand of usage of the priced-road or expressway. History  The first road pricing scheme, known as the Area Licensing Scheme (ALS), was introduced in the Restricted Zone (RZ) in 1975. The scheme was subsequently extended to major expressways with the Road Pricing Scheme (RPS). In September 1998, the ERP system replaced the manual system for the RZ and expressways. In September 1999, ERP was extended to some of our key arterial roads beyond the RZ. ERP rates and gantry locations 1. The operating hours of all ERP gantries end at 1pm on the eve of New Year, Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas. The ERP charges are not applicable on Sundays and all public holidays. 2. The time period(0730-0800) means the corresponding ERP rate applies from and including 7.30am and applies until but excluding 8.00 am.The same definition applies to other time periods.  References: http://app.mot.gov.sg/Land_Transport/Managing_Road_Use/Electronic_Road_Pricing.aspx                http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/lta/en/motoring/erp_.html?parent=&child=&root=erp_&rootFlag=none&parentFlag=undefined