The automated toll collection system was launched at 22h on 2/3 across five sections of the North-South Expressway: Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet, and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay. On its first full day, 3/3, the system processed over 50,000 successful transactions, generating revenue exceeding 4,4 billion VND.
Despite the initial success, the Vietnam Road Administration noted some emerging issues. At the Mai Son interchange, barrier operation on the main line was temporarily suspended to ensure vehicle safety. Toll collection staff were reassigned to post-check vehicles passing through this location.
Crucially, on 3/3, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressways encountered significant errors. License plate recognition on both routes was unstable, with a success rate of only about 50%. Images were often blurry, making vehicle identification difficult. Cameras also failed to recognize trailing vehicles, complicating traffic flow. Additional problems included unreadable cards at entry lanes, incomplete vehicle exit data, and blurry or interrupted surveillance videos.
To address these technical challenges, the contractor adjusted software and camera equipment at the stations. These modifications aimed to improve license plate recognition quality, rectify slow-opening barriers, and ensure barriers open immediately when congestion occurs at toll lanes.
For the specific errors on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressways, the Vietnam Road Administration directed Thang Long Project Management Board, Project Management Board 7, and the equipment and software providers to implement fixes. All major technical errors have now been fully rectified, ensuring stable system operation. Some minor issues are currently being fine-tuned.
 |
Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Expressway passes through Lam Dong province. *Photo: Viet Quoc* |
To maintain system efficiency and promptly handle situations, the Vietnam Road Administration established a Steering Committee for expressway toll collection. Led by a director of the Administration, this committee includes representatives from project management boards, construction contractors, and toll operation units, who are permanently stationed at toll stations. The management agency also advised vehicle owners to affix terminal tags and maintain sufficient balance in their cashless payment accounts when traveling on expressways.
Doan Loan
