E-Tolls – The Tale of Two Cities

Normally they just stand on the overpasses with their banners unfurled. “NO TOLLS” they read. Last Friday was different. Instead of a peaceful protest against the iniquities of the e-toll system, the Metropolitan Police descended upon the small bunch of protesting claiming that they were disrupting traffic. Instead it was the 10 police vehicles which were causing the obstruction. A visitor from Dubai then enlightened us what was their experience with toll roads. It could not be more different than Gauteng’s response.

Like all protest action, facts and reasons are lost in the squabble. So it is with e-tolls. Regurgitating the arguments at this juncture is pointless. In his revised proposal, the Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa did make two salient points. Firstly, somebody has to pay for the new roads. By converting the e-toll to a fuel levy as advocated by OUTA, the poor would bear portion of the cost as taxis would also be liable for a fuel levy whereas if the cost were split between tolls and other taxes, the effect would be felt mainly by the affluent citizens.

Main picture: E-Toll gantries are now part of the landscape of Gauteng

 

Dubai’s system

Dubai’s system is known as Salik, meaning “clear and moving”, is also an electronic tolling system. Like in South Africa, it is based on RFID technology which automatically deducts a fee when a toll gate is passed under. The Salik toll was launched by Dubai’s Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on 1 July 2007.

E-toll protest on the Linksfield Bridge being disrupted by Metro Police

E-toll protest on the Linksfield Bridge being disrupted by Metro Police

Motorists are required to buy a 100 AED ($25) pre-paid card that is affixed to their windscreens. 4 AED ($1.08) is deducted from their account each time they pass through a toll gate. Initially, there were two toll gates, one near Al Garhoud Bridge, and one near Mall of the Emirates, but later in September 2008 two more gates were installed on Maktoum Bridge and at Safa. A further pair of gates was installed on Ittihad Road, the principal route from Dubai to neighbouring Sharjah and by the Dubai Airport Tunnel.

The maximum charge per day per car using the tolled roads will be 24 AED ($6.48) However as of July 1, 2013 this has been scrapped and there is no longer an upper limit that vehicles will be charged.

According to Pradeep, my visitor from Dubai, he passes through four gantries on the way to work and another four on the way home. Hence his daily toll cost amounts to R80 as compared with my R14.83 from Sandton to Roodepoort!

E-tolls#1
The penalties for non-payment are serious. In the event that they were unpaid, he would not have been allowed on his flight to South Africa. Moreover, renewal of his vehicle licence is debarred until payment is made failing which, being an expatriate, he will be deported back to India.

There is no light touch there. The banner protest likewise would have resulted in severe penalties probably amounting to a year in jail,

Example of an e-tag

Example of an e-tag

In other words, the Emaratis – or people of the UAE – have no options. Either use alternative roads of pay up.

 

The Future of the South African version

So much for OUTA’s flamboyant comment that the RFID system of tolling does not work anywhere in the world!

Nobody welcomes any additional financial burdens being placed on them. I am no different in that regard. As such I am as equally opposed to e-tolling as the next person.

What is the likelihood that collections on e-tolls will raise to the forecast levels of 80+%. Given that the current official percentage of traffic fines paid in Johannesburg is a paltry 4%, there is no chance of such optimistic figures being attained. Thirty percent at best is more than can be expected.

E-tolls#3

What is the profile of that compliant sector? Mainly white middle and affluent citizens of Gauteng!

What will it take to reverse this situation?

Political will and backbone.

What is likelihood of that happening?

Certainly not before the Municipal Elections in 2016 and even possibly NEVER

What is my current recommendation?
I do not believe that I should pay my tolls. My prediction is that like the decision of the government to write off 6 million traffic fines in Joburg or the write off the arrears of the electricty accounts of towns such as Soweto, likewise such a write off will occur with the tolls. Given the lack of political will that the government has show in previous cases when this write off does eventuate, what is the likelihood that the honest citizens will be refunded their payments.

None, like in the previous cases mentioned.

Of course this is a personal decision. Everybody needs to make their own decisions

Perhaps this a cynical approach but it definitely accords with the political realities in South Africa under the current ANC government.
Sources:

  1. http://bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za/260631/campaign-against-e-tolls-shut-down-by-authorities/
  2. Wikipedia
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1 Comment

  1. Germany was about to introduce a maut aystem as well. There was a long discussion because no German wanted to pay more than he already does. So, government had the idea of reducing German car taxes by the same amount the maut would cost. That called the EU to the stage because Non-Germans would get no refund. Currently, the EU court has taken up the matter and the German goverment has suspended the idea until the decision of the EU court. When I drive through France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, I have to pay for toll roads. I support the maut concept – but I want to be sure that the money earned will really be spend on better roads!

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