Netizens voice disappointment as LTA persists with ‘bulky’ ERP 2.0 OBU implementation

SINGAPORE: Some motorists have expressed their disappointment towards the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for persisting with the rollout of the new Electronic Road Pricing system, ERP 2.0.

Criticism has been directed at the new on-board units (OBUs) due to their bulky design and inconvenient placement of the cash card reader, such as beneath the glove compartment or in the front passenger footwell.

Many motorists have voiced concerns about whether the LTA genuinely considers user feedback, questioning the rationale behind proceeding with and defending the current design.

Earlier on 28 March, the LTA announced that existing local motorcycle owners would progressively receive notifications regarding OBU installations via letter, email, or SMS starting from 1 May.

Additionally, the LTA stated that all new vehicles registered from 1 May onwards will come equipped with the ERP 2.0 system’s OBU already installed, marking the next phase of installation for these two groups of motorists.

The initial phase of installation commenced in November 2023, focusing on company vehicles as the first recipients of the OBU.

Currently, over 13,000 vehicles have been fitted with OBUs, with approximately 75 per cent belonging to company fleets such as buses and motorcycles, according to the LTA.

Motorists’ frustration with the latest OBU design

Meanwhile, in a recent CNA article, several motorists have voiced frustrations regarding the difficulty in accessing their CashCard.

Specifically, they have highlighted the inconvenient placement of the card reader.

The online community has earlier echoed these sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction with the LTA’s choice of a “bulky” OBU design.

Concerns have been raised about potential hindrances to driver visibility through the windscreen, with some citing worries about blind spots.

Amidst increasing concerns about the rising expenses associated with vehicle ownership, particularly in the face of surging Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices, worries about possible cascading effects on transportation costs have also surfaced.

Responding to these concerns, the LTA has implemented changes to the installation process based on feedback from early adopters.

These adjustments include allowing drivers to temporarily deactivate their CashCard using the touchscreen and providing flexibility in selecting the installation positions for the card reader and touchscreen display, within technical feasibility.

However, despite these efforts, some motorists still find the new system inconvenient, particularly regarding the potential need to take time off work for installation changes.

Additionally, there are conflicting opinions regarding the usefulness of the touchscreen display for motorcycles, with some riders expressing a preference for the older design due to its sleekness.

Questions have also been raised about the necessity of a three-piece system for cars.

Concerns over LTA’s decision-making and disconnect with consumer perspective

Recent online community feedback reflects disappointment with the LTA’s decision to persist with the bulky design despite motorists’ concerns.

For example, a comment on LTA’s Facebook post expressed worry that the design could endanger drivers and provide minimal benefit.

The comment emphasized the importance of future-proofing the design from the outset, likening the situation to the Simply Go Ezlink transition but highlighting that the OBU poses potential dangers to road users.

He criticized the requirement to place the processor at the passenger seat, despite his request to have it installed on the driver’s side, claiming that the installer cited LTA regulations as the reason for this limitation.

Furthermore, he criticized the oversized display unit, which he felt served little purpose other than controlling volume and displaying the remaining balance.

“If motorcycle can have a small unit, why can’t the car be installed with the same unit?” the motorist questioned.

Another comment criticised LTA for its inability to implement a satisfactory nationwide system that impacts the majority of the population.

He highlighted what he perceived as a lack of logical thinking and a disconnect between system designers, policymakers, and the consumers’ perspective.

Netizen mocked, “World-class nation with a schoolboy innovation”

Some comments have raised concerns about the potential inconvenience stemming from the new OBU design when motorists access older carpark gantries.

Their worry centres around the possibility that these older gantries may struggle to detect the CashCard when it remains in the processor at the passenger side.

This could pose difficulties for motorists who must manually remove the card to scan the gantries.

There are also netizens urging LTA to improve their policies, pointing out several instances where LTA’s decisions had backfired, highlighting a lack of foresight and ignorance regarding practical feasibility on the ground.

Specifically, they mentioned recent issues with the “Simply-Go” system and mandatory taxi alighting points in the Central Business District (CBD) as examples of policies that have caused inconvenience or problems for the public.

One netizen went as far as to mock the latest OBU design, labelling it as “a world-class nation with a schoolboy innovation.”

This sarcastic remark suggests that despite Singapore being praised as a smart nation, the LTA has failed to leverage the latest technologies to address the daily problems faced by ordinary citizens.

Amy Khor stressed irreplaceability of ERP 2.0 OBU, citing smartphone limitations

During 6 November 2023 parliamentary session, Senior Minister of State for Transport, Amy Khor, emphasized that ERP 2.0 cannot be entirely replaced by smartphone technology.

She underscored the importance of the OBU can “better ensure reliability and performance, and reduce significant downstream operational challenges, such as disputes regarding charging inaccuracies”.

Regarding the use of smartphones for ERP transactions, Dr Khor highlighted the inconvenience for motorists, who would need to initiate their mobile apps, enter passcodes, or use biometric authentication each time they travel, potentially leading to inadvertent neglect of the ERP process.

“This is inconvenient to motorists, and some may inadvertently forget to start their mobile apps for the ERP.”

However, Dr Khor acknowledged earlier feedback about the OBU’s inelegant and bulky design, mentioning the development of a mobile interface for those who opt against installing the touchscreen display. This mobile interface allows motorists to access the information typically displayed on the touchscreen via their smartphones.

Reiterating the LTA’s stance, Dr Khor confirmed that there are no immediate plans to introduce distance-based charging. She emphasized that any plans to implement this approach must consider multiple factors.