E-Tolls...

[Vic_RSA]

Well guys and girls, it looks to be going ahead. Who owns an e-tag yet?




Lets see what Cosatu has to say next...

[Crewzern]

[Rossi]

I've had one since they came out, hating the idea of it!

[sav]

Originally Posted by Vic_RSA

Well guys and girls, it looks to be going ahead. Who owns an e-tag yet?




Lets see what Cosatu has to say next...

Yep, it's not activated though.

[Vic_RSA]

I'll have to buy three if (probably when!) it comes out... Can you register multiple cars under one?

[HunterGreene]

So I stumbled on this thread, and being from the US, I gotta ask the question--whats the E-tag? Is it for some sort of automated road toll system?

EDIT: Apparently so (thanks Google!). So what is the complaint?

[sav]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

So I stumbled on this thread, and being from the US, I gotta ask the question--whats the E-tag? Is it for some sort of automated road toll system?

EDIT: Apparently so (thanks Google!). So what is the complaint?

It is a VERY long story but to make a long story short, we're getting nailed on taxes, tax money gets spent on upgrading the president's personal home and then they still want us to pay for using the roads. Most people can't afford it but they don't care...

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by sav

It is a VERY long story but to make a long story short, we're getting nailed on taxes, tax money gets spent on upgrading the president's personal home and then they still want us to pay for using the roads. Most people can't afford it but they don't care...

Ah, so basically, the revenue isn't going back to the infrastructure. We have a similar system over here in the states (well, some of them, but its more than one system, blah, blah, blah), but at least on the toll road in Ohio, all our tolls are directed back into roadwork projects.

From what I read about the e-tag, its not mandatory, and there are hefty punishments promised for anyone who tries to do otherwise. Is it overall cheaper than the normal toll process? Up here, it costs $16.50 (USD) for a car to travel across the state on the toll road and $11.25 if we have an EZ pass.

Thanks for answering my question. Sounds like the process needs to be rethunk a bit. It definitely cuts down at congestion at toll plazas, but if people can't afford it, the system is broken before it starts.

[sav]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

Ah, so basically, the revenue isn't going back to the infrastructure. We have a similar system over here in the states (well, some of them, but its more than one system, blah, blah, blah), but at least on the toll road in Ohio, all our tolls are directed back into roadwork projects.

From what I read about the e-tag, its not mandatory, and there are hefty punishments promised for anyone who tries to do otherwise. Is it overall cheaper than the normal toll process? Up here, it costs $16.50 (USD) for a car to travel across the state on the toll road and $11.25 if we have an EZ pass.

Thanks for answering my question. Sounds like the process needs to be rethunk a bit. It definitely cuts down at congestion at toll plazas, but if people can't afford it, the system is broken before it starts.

That is pretty much exactly it. I wouldn't mind paying if I knew that the money was going to be used to improve the roads and infrastructure but it's not going to be the case. Also, they went about it all wrong - SANRAL took a massive foreign loan(billions) even before e-toll was approved and now they need to pay it back.

Also, these tolls are on roads that people use to get to work on a daily basis. There are discounts when using the e-tag and the monthly amount will be capped at around $60. It doesn't sound like much but it's a lot of money when looking at the average income and fuel costs in SA.

The problem is also getting the money from the people, it's going to be a logistical nightmare if people are refusing to pay.

[sieglapj]

Also have one, but not activated. Did u notice that u are earning intrest on your credit?