In fact, they will no longer even need a CashCard in their car to make ERP payments.

By around mid-year, a new service will allow drivers to pay electronic road pricing (ERP) charges when they settle their monthly credit card bill.

This development was part of the Land Transport Masterplan, which Transport Minister Raymond Lim launched yesterday.

'For motorists who wish to do away with the need to carry and top up stored-value cards, the ERP payment system will be further enhanced to allow alternative payment modes, such as credit card payment which will be implemented by mid-2008,' read the blueprint for commuter-friendly transport till 2020.

The Land Transport Authority did not have any details on the plan.

However, it is hoped the new system will reduce the 30,000 or so violations chalked up each month by motorists who pass gantries without enough funds.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.