Yet another neighbour is taking an advanced step towards new gantry-less toll payment methods. Thailand has declared that the new M-Flow payment method has passed its pilot programme testing and is ready for use by the general public.
M-Flow is a new intercity expressway toll system that doesn’t require gantries so road users are not required to stop and pay. The system is expected to reduce traffic congestion and also reduce the use of cash.
But unlike our local RFID system that claims the same thing, M-Flow doesn’t require a tag or a card. The system uses AI technology and cameras to automatically scan car plates as the cars drive past.
According to our sister site Autofun, the system can detect number plates even though the car is travelling at 120 km/h. They expect 2,000 to 2,500 cars per day to pass through the M-Flow system.
The system allows users to pay the toll via three methods. The first method allows registered users to choose to accumulate their bills and pay every 1st or 16th of the month.
Or they can choose to pay per use, this method will see the system deduct money directly from a registered credit or debit card. They can also choose to deduct money from the old M Pass or Easy Pass tag.
The third method is also a pay per use method, however, instead of registering a credit or debit card in the system, users have to pay via a QR code, ATM, at a service counter, or via mobile banking.
These payments need to be made within 48 hours of passing through the M-Flow camera or else they will have to pay ten times the price of the original fee. So, if the fee is THB 30 the final price will be THB 300.
If payment is not made within 12 days, there will be an additional fine of at least THB 200 (~RM 26) on top of the THB 300 fee. They will also be prosecuted according to the law.
Such a system implementation is not without issue. Our colleagues from Autofun reported that registering for the system is rather difficult as the website lags badly. Meanwhile, traffic flow has been redirected to other areas to avoid the new M-Flow system causing bad congestion.
But with the system requiring users to pay only after they have passed through the toll, at least the M-Flow system doesn’t cause a traffic jam at the toll plaza due to insufficient balance.
Keyword: As Malaysia grapples with RFID, Thailand moves on to number plate recognition toll payments