SINGAPORE - Motorists can opt to install the processing unit for their next-generation Electronic Road Pricing system (ERP 2.0) on-board equipment in the driver’s footwell, if their vehicle allows it, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

LTA’s statement on May 2 came in the wake of complaints in recent weeks from motorists, who said the location of the ERP 2.0 processing unit at the passenger’s side of the vehicle made it difficult and unsafe for drivers who had to reach for cards lodged there from the driver’s seat.

The authority said the unit can also be installed in other parts of a vehicle, if the car model does not allow for the unit to be installed in either the driver’s or the front passenger’s footwell. This is subject to safety considerations and technical feasibility.

The change is among improvements to the ERP on-board unit’s features and installation process rolled out by LTA to address feedback after the units were installed in more than 18,000 vehicles.

The on-board unit has three components: the processing unit, an antenna and a touchscreen display, which is optional.

LTA said it has also introduced a button on the unit’s touchscreen display since April 19 following safety concerns raised by motorists.

Pressing this button allows drivers to deactivate their payment cards in order to use complimentary parking tickets at carpark gantries, without removing their payment cards from the processing unit.

Should drivers forget to reactivate the card after leaving the carpark, their ERP payments will not be affected as the correct amount will still be deducted from the card balance when their vehicles reach an active ERP gantry, LTA added.

Payment firm Nets will also give a free Motoring Card to all motorists with the new ERP 2.0 unit, so drivers can tap this card to enter or exit some private carparks without the Electronic Parking System, instead of reaching for the payment card lodged in their processing unit.

Nets will be announcing more details, said LTA.

At present, most private carparks and all public carparks use the Electronic Parking System.

The installation of the new on-board units began in fleet vehicles, such as buses and motorcycles, in November 2023.

New vehicles registered since May 1 would have been pre-fitted with equipment for the next-generation ERP system.

The authority said it has instructed all motor dealers and importers to consult buyers of new vehicles on where they would like the processing unit installed, and whether they want to install the touchscreen display.

Said LTA: “For owners who choose not to install the touchscreen display, they will still receive a unit of the touchscreen display, so that they have the option to install the display if they change their minds subsequently.”

With the deactivation function on the touchscreen and the free Nets card, the only other time motorists may have to remove their payment card would be to manually top up the card.

LTA said it will deploy ambassadors at vehicle showrooms and workshops to guide motorists regarding their installation options, as well as teach them how to automatically top up their payment cards.

It said: “With auto top-up, a vehicle owner does not need to remove his card from the processing unit when the balance is low, as the top-up will be done automatically.”

LTA said it has received positive feedback from early adopters who appreciated the safety notifications from the on-board units on school zones, silver zones and bus-lane hours, as these have helped raise awareness of their surroundings and enhance road safety.

The authority said it is working with the Traffic Police to expand the safety notifications to include more speed-camera zones, including red-light cameras and mobile cameras, to remind motorists to keep within speed limits.

These extra features will be pushed to motorists wirelessly after the units are installed, so motorists will not have to take their vehicles back to workshops for the upgrades, said LTA.

It added: “We appreciate the early adopters who stepped forward and provided useful feedback to improve our design and installation process.

“LTA has taken on board the learning points and suggestions for improvement, and made changes to enhance user choice, convenience and safety.”

The next-generation ERP system is based on satellite navigation technology and replaces the outgoing 25-year-old system. When it is fully rolled out, there will be no need to rely on physical gantries to run the ERP system.