I REFER to the article, '3rd ERP gantry on PIE to kick in' (Oct 21).
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) used to operate only from 8am to 9am. That was the peak hour. To discourage driving during this period, motorists were encouraged to adjust their travel pattern, for example, by going to work earlier. They heeded this call, but inevitably there was slower traffic at 7am.
Slower traffic at 7am is not a big problem as there is no significant economic loss.
Unfortunately, the goalposts have shifted: The new benchmark is 45kmh travel speed, even though it is only 7am. The cooperative group of motorists will now be penalised.
Having to be on the road at 7am is already admirable, considering the amount of family time motorists have sacrificed. Now, as reported in the article, some motorists plan to start their journey a further one hour earlier. When will this end?
ERP charges are supposed to be tiered, with maximum charges levied during peak hour and tapering down gradually. A random or haphazard pricing system loses focus and confuses motorists.
Seow Joo Heng
Wrong location penalises some drivers
I WOULD like to comment on the new Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry on the westbound Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) before Eunos Link.
Since the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has identified that slow traffic in the morning is due to cars and heavy vehicles making short trips from Simei to Paya Lebar, wouldn't it make more sense to have the gantry at the Paya Lebar exit and even the Eunos slip road, rather than the whole width of the PIE?
This would discourage drivers from making short trips from Simei to Paya Lebar, and meet LTA's objective.
In addition, genuine drivers travelling west from Simei would not be affected by the gantries.
The current gantry before Eunos Link penalises both long- and short-haul drivers, which is unfair to westbound drivers.
I urge LTA to reassess the location of this gantry to really tackle the problem on this expressway.
