New free-flow system at tollbooths will use AI to nab drivers who fail to pay monthly

[webfact]

New free-flow system at tollbooths will use AI to nab drivers who fail to pay monthly

By The Nation

 

 

The Transport Ministry will use artificial intelligence as part of its planned “M-Flow” system that will replace conventional barriers at toll ways and charge drivers on a monthly basis. AI will be used to detect licence plates and share information with police so legal action can be taken against drivers who fail to pay or those who use “illegal” vehicles.

 

The new system will help the free flow of vehicles at tollbooths, which are often traffic choke points.

 

Vehicles normally pile up at toll-gate barriers, creating a long line of traffic stretching from expressway and motorway booths and causing delays in journeys, the Department of Highways (DoH) noted.

 

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob had announced the automatic fee-collection system without any barriers, called “Multi-Lane Free Flow” or “M-Flow”.

 

The DoH had studied and developed the system, which uses video tolling technology, an artificial intelligence system that can automatically detect vehicle licence plates. AI will record vehicle registrations to collect toll fees on a monthly basis, just like water, electricity and phone bills.

 

A search through bidding is underway for a contractor to install the M-Flow system on Motorway No 9, the Eastern Outer Ring Road (Bang Pa-in-Bang Phli), that includes two toll points – Thap Chang 1 and Thap Chang 2 – with no M-Pass or cash collection.

 

The DoH expects to test the system in real time by December before fully opening it to the public after the New Year in January 2021.

 

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) will then try out the M-Flow system on Chalong Rat Expressway (Ramintra-At Narong) in February 2021.

 

The firm that wins the bidding will get to install the new systems and manage motorways, including tolls, starting with the Thap Chang 1 and Thap Chang 2 toll points, then expanding to other points by the end of 2021.

 

When using the M-Flow system, existing toll gates will not be used.

 

The new free-flow system will help in detecting “illegal” or errant vehicles by integrating information with the Department of Land Transport’s (DLT) database to know the vehicle type, history, legal status, etc before forwarding the information to the police for investigation and legal action.

 

Exat and the DLT have had problems collecting cash from drivers who have “fled” tollbooths and failed to pay.

 

The private operator that’s given the job will need to guarantee revenue from toll collection.

 

The idea is being discussed with traffic police to work on a traffic law and information network, which will then be submitted to the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic for consideration.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30394707

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-17

 

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[kotsak]

So let me understand this.. They expect to collect money from someone after they have swooshed through..

 

 

Time for flipping license plates.. ????

 

[bluesofa]

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

AI will record vehicle registrations to collect toll fees on a monthly basis, just like water, electricity and phone bills.

Expect a surge in number plates stolen from car parks soon then.

[bodga]

I  drove through one recently without  paying  due to the fact the barrier was up and a green light was  on, not exactly clear at  all that you had to stop, didnt  care  much sold the vehicle a few  weeks  back anyway, that and the fact the log  book was  still at  an old  address from 7 years  ago so there  must be 100 tickets for speeding somewhere.

[stouricks]

How much did they just spend on all those tool booths between Pattaya and Chonburi.......billions!

[josephbloggs]

9 minutes ago, bodga said:

I  drove through one recently without  paying  due to the fact the barrier was up and a green light was  on, not exactly clear at  all that you had to stop, didnt  care  much sold the vehicle a few  weeks  back anyway, that and the fact the log  book was  still at  an old  address from 7 years  ago so there  must be 100 tickets for speeding somewhere.

They were free during the long holiday.

[Justgrazing]

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

The DoH had studied and developed the system, which uses video tolling technology, an artificial intelligence system that can automatically detect vehicle licence plates. AI will record vehicle registrations to collect toll fees on a monthly basis, just like water, electricity and phone bills

 

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

The new free-flow system will help in detecting “illegal” or errant vehicles by integrating information with the Department of Land Transport’s (DLT) database to know the vehicle type, history, legal status, etc before forwarding the information to the police for investigation and legal action

That's the nub of any traffic monitoring ANPR system .. the database holding the vehicle registration details must be accurate and updated when a vehicle changes hands .. that has to be rigourously applied without exception otherwise previous owners cop for the fines .. to reinforce the obligation in Britain you can be fined upto a £1000 for failing to notify DVLA of any change of ownership .. 

[bodga]

22 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

They were free during the long holiday.

I  dont think it was free at the time as I went thru it again recently and  still  no functioning barrier

[Jeffr2]

Great news.  Free flow systems have been in use globally for decades.  

[Chassa]

Many painted-over number plates in my area!

[Poet]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The Transport Ministry will use artificial intelligence as part of its planned “M-Flow” system

Great to see any form of intelligence introduced into Thailand.

 

[Don Mega]

Be good when theyimplement it, lost count of the amount of times Ive nearly taken out the barrier on the M-Pass lanes cause they are a bit slow to open.

[Susco]

16 hours ago, bodga said:

I  dont think it was free at the time as I went thru it again recently and  still  no functioning barrier

Sure, a toll booth is misfunctioning for weeks in a row and nobody notice it.

 

Sometimes I really wonder about the average IQ on this forum

[Sydebolle]

Look at the Swiss system of a yearly sticker, impossible to copy and available at any post office and convenience stores (apart from online ordering). THB 1'500 yearly flat for the entire network of "Autobahn" with Zero endeavours. 

Dont get caught though without a sticker on the highway as this will cost you a godforsaken fortune in a fine; paid up before you continue to drive - simple as that! 

[josephbloggs]

35 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Look at the Swiss system of a yearly sticker, impossible to copy and available at any post office and convenience stores (apart from online ordering). THB 1'500 yearly flat for the entire network of "Autobahn" with Zero endeavours. 

Dont get caught though without a sticker on the highway as this will cost you a godforsaken fortune in a fine; paid up before you continue to drive - simple as that! 

What if you only travel out of town once or twice a year?  That doesn't seem logical or fair.

[whiteman]

What if you only travel out of town once or twice a year?  That doesn't seem logical or fair.    They would probably send you a bill or have you towed away as you block up the free flow line as the barrier has not gone up for you ????

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, whiteman said:

What if you only travel out of town once or twice a year?  That doesn't seem logical or fair.    They would probably send you a bill or have you towed away as you block up the free flow line as the barrier has not gone up for you ????

A free flow system doesn't have any barriers.   Sounds like every car needs a sticker regardless of usage.  So if you barely need to use the motorways it is very expensive and unfair.

[Crj1948]

21 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Expect a surge in number plates stolen from car parks soon then.

We have recently received 2 speeding tickets for a vehicle using the same number plate as ours, fortunately we have a dealers name on ours which is missing on the plate of the other car, we are told this fraud  is fairly common, so that will throw the system into overdrive.

[DrTuner]

Somchai will try to break the sound barrier with the souped up Vigo when flying through the open gates. That daily pile-up will be slower than having the gates.

[Sydebolle]

On 9/18/2020 at 9:13 AM, josephbloggs said:

What if you only travel out of town once or twice a year?  That doesn't seem logical or fair.

There is no such „Travellers“; and for those who really only dust off their cars for a spin from A to B there is always the normal (excellent) grid of non-highways. Works perfectly for 50 years, brings tons of money with zero headache but requires a grown-up society with common sense!