B.T.W

By Eileen Yu

By the way, ZDNet Asia has more to say

Is technology making us lazy?

Posted in By The Way by Eileen Yu on 2007/08/24 12:47:50

Last night, I watched the news in utter dismay as Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced plans to further increase road tolls and extend the coverage of the country's Electronic Road Pricing (ERP). As expected, the government says its primary objective for doing so is to help relieve congestion and improve traffic flow.

As a car owner, I don't greet such moves with open arms but I've always regarded the ERP system as one of the finest examples of how technology--when applied ingeniously--can help address business challenges.

However, is the ERP network encouraging Singapore's transport authority to stop thinking innovatively?

Introduced in 1998, the ERP system uses a culmination of smart card and RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The entire network comprises gantries located along highways and roads that are frequently congested during peak hours, as well as in-vehicle units (IUs) that are affixed on every vehicle including motorbikes.

Singapore's toll collector ERP

Smart cards carrying stored cash value--also dubbed CashCards--are inserted into the IUs, and the funds are deducted each time a vehicle passes under an ERP gantry that's in operation.

It's a great infrastructure because it allows the government to not only easily collect but also manage toll fees, which vary according to specific hours of the day. It also reduces administrative costs because the onus is on drivers to remember to insert their CashCards into the IU--errant drivers face a penalty if they fail to do so.

In fact, the ERP system has been such a success that the LTA often looks to it first and as the primary way to reduce traffic congestion--or so it seems. News reports this morning spoke nothing about other solutions the government may be looking at to resolve this problem. Instead, all discussions seemed to revolve around the extended ERP operating hours, new ERP gantries and higher ERP fees.

I often joke that the entire island could soon be blanketed under a giant gantry and become an ERP state, where Singaporeans will have to carry a personal IU and pay "walk" tolls each time they step out of their door.

As successful as it has been, the ERP system can only do so much for traffic management, particularly since some highways on the island-state remain congested today despite the fact that there are already multiple ERP gantries strategically placed along these highways.

Surely there are other ways to manage Singapore's traffic problems? How about providing businesses an incentive to move their offices out of the Central Business District, so traffic can be diverted away from the traffic-congested areas? Government agencies could also set an example by allowing their employees to work from home on certain days of the week, so the roads can be further freed up. This will better encourage local businesses to follow suit and implement the same flexi-working hours.

The LTA should also look more closely at why some car owners find it difficult to give up their vehicles. For instance, I find it tough to do so because I wouldn't be able to easily ferry my dog around--pooches in Singapore aren't allowed on public buses and trains, and they aren't always welcomed on cabs. I'll only be encouraged to consider giving up my car if there's a ready alternative for me to commute with my dog by my side.

There's no doubt the ERP system is one of Singapore's success stories as far as technology is concerned, but it should not be a reason for anyone to simply sit back and rely on technology as the only answer to all business problems.

It's said often enough, technology cannot stand on its own. Organizations also need to think about putting in place the right policies and governance, or their IT strategy--no matter how sound--will not achieve its objectives.

As it is, the Internet is said to put some children's brains in danger of oblivion. We cannot afford to allow technology to effect the same impact on the great minds behind major businesses, much less governing bodies.

Disclaimer:
Views and opinions expressed in this blog are the author's, and do not necessarily represent those of ZDNet Asia.

Talkback 5 comments

It is interesting to note that we have always use tolls to control congestion on one road, and create congestion elsewhere.

How about the following ideas?

1. How about LTA, instead of charging us for passing through certain roads that they don't want us to pass through, PAY us to pass through road that they want us to? Sometimes it is interesting that when they look at things at the macro scale, they forgot that certain people have _no other choices_ but to pass through certain congested areas to get from point A to point B. So, why not incentivize people who have the optio nof taking the other route to take it and earn some money back? It would be the same ERP technology, with negative values.

2. How about LTA make COE a "lease" model instead of the current buy once model, so that it functions more like a road tax? Or, a tiered COE for various cars who need to access the town more often than others so that they pay less ERP if they pay more upfront? That way it is better to plan for peak traffic in cities right?

3. Along the lines of why people use cars, why don't we consider selling smaller cars that takes half a lane (motorbike foot print with car characteristics)? Why aren't there a concerted effort to reduce the size of cars? Along the same lines, why don't we innovate on the expressways and allow more space to exiting traffic, less cross overs when expressways merges, more ramps etc.?
Posted by jiinjoo on Friday, August 24 2007 04:04 PM

Very good observation and I can say with full confidence that LTA is really not looking at the traffic situation with enough innovation.

The problem why certain roads are always congested is the basic fact that the design is flawed like having too many exits along the CTE that's why it is gridlocked as drivers try to enter/exit the highway.

So to use the ERP to solve a design problem is like asking a patient to take medication for a wrong illness.

By the look of things, we do not even need gantries in the future. The government just need to use the GPS and charge ALL drivers whenever they use the roads and be done with road tax.

Ultimately the tax should be on usage and not on ownership.
Posted by Wilson Wong on Friday, August 24 2007 07:52 PM

The LTA should use GPS system instead of the ERP gantries and IU units fitted in vehicles and bikes. So the motorist wouldn't have to remember to insert the cashcard and worry about stolen issues if they forgot to remove it. LTA can save the cost of building new ERP gantries.
Posted by Feddywong on Saturday, August 25 2007 03:04 PM

Just want to add to Wilson Wong's point about flaw in the system. How many time have we encounter grid lock at Orchard Rd caused by the extra long Bendy bus? Why can't we stick to the double decker ones? Surely Bendy buses take up bigger footprint on our already congested road.
Posted by Yang T H on Sunday, August 26 2007 09:49 PM

Your suggestion on working one or even two days at home to ease traffic congestion is a very sound suggestion. The technology to enable workers to work remotely are widely available.

Think "killing multiple birds with one stone". Ease traffic, decrease pollution and promote work/life balance.

Sadly, most employers don't think that. ;)
Posted by JunFendy on Thursday, August 30 2007 11:26 AM

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About the blogger

Eileen Yu

Eileen Yu began covering the IT industry when Asynchronous Transfer Mode was still hip and e-commerce was the new buzzword. These days, she gets stirred up over issues concerning Internet regulation, intellectual property rights and software patents, online privacy and data protection. Eileen is senior editor at ZDNet Asia, where she oversees the business tech news site.