Open road tolling 'equitable': SANRAL

Open road tolling is an equitable method for motorists to pay for what they use, the SA National Roads Agency said on Tuesday. "This is because the capital raised via tolls is directly returned to the toll road network," Sanral's project manager Alex van Niekerk told a media briefing in Johannesburg on the progress of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.

Open road tolling on Gauteng freeways -- due to be implemented in April next year --- means transactions would be conducted electronically without traffic flow being impeded and tariffs being collected. Physical tolling booths would be eliminated, eradicating delays and vehicle emissions associated with stop-start driving.

Overhead gantries would be place along Gauteng's newly-upgraded roads. "The gantries will have detection devices and will pick up details from the e-tag which the motorist will have on the windscreen of the vehicle."

Devices on the gantry would record the vehicle's number plate and money would be taken off motorists' credit cards or out of their bank accounts.

If a motorist had no money in his or her account, Sanral would take a "tough stand". It would also not tolerate motorists with no e-tag or account.

"An invoice will be sent to motorists who have no money in their accounts and after that, if no progress has been made, the legal process will begin."

Van Niekerk said it would be easy for motorists to obtain an e-tag and open an account.

"There will be a user-friendly call centre as well as a dedicated website for this purpose. We will also set up kiosks at shopping centres."

Sanral expected one million accounts to eventually be opened.

The toll roads would cost 50 cents per kilometre.

Van Niekerk estimated a motorist travelling between the Pretoria and Johannesburg CBDs on a return trip would have to pay about R25.

"But we will have discounts for frequent users. We want to make this as affordable as possible."

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