E-tolls will be tested on the N3 in selected toll plaza lanes, beginning next week, the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) company said on Wednesday.
The company, responsible for the N3 toll route, aims to implement electronic toll collection (ETC) as an additional “convenient payment method” for vehicles fitted with electronic tags, the company said in a statement.
“It is envisaged that ETC will be implemented at all plazas along the N3 toll route during the latter part of 2015.”
While testing is under way, road users with e-tags in their vehicles will hear a beeping sound when they pass through certain toll plaza lanes along the N3 toll route. Money is not being deducted from road users’ accounts when they hear that sound.
The testing will take place between Heidelberg in Gauteng and Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal, the route managed by the company.
Andy Visser, N3TC marketing manager, said: “There is no need to be alarmed. This is not a live transaction environment, merely a testing phase to ensure equipment and operational functionalities.”
All tolling operations along the N3 toll route will continue to function the way users have been used to. N3TC will continue to accept all existing payment methods along the route. This includes cash, credit and fleet cards for light vehicles (class 1) and cash or fleet cards for heavy vehicles (classes 2 to 4).
No debit cards, Diners Club, American Express or international bank cards are accepted as payment methods on the N3 toll route.
“With the roll-out of an electronic payment method, N3TC is adding another convenient payment option for those users who wish to make use of this alternative, but for the rest it will be business as usual on the N3 toll route,” Visser said. — News24
