Fast lane taking less of a toll

Beijing is hoping twice as many people will use the through lane on expressways to bypass toll gates this year, saving time for drivers and increasing efficiency for the company that manages the roads.

By February, 154,000 Beijing drivers had signed up for the ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system, fitting tags to their vehicles that allow them to pay motorway tolls without stopping, the Beijing Capital Highway Development Co Ltd said.

Vehicles with the tags only take about three seconds to pass a toll payment point in the ETC lane, where there is rarely a queue.