The idea is to introduce a fairer system that charges road users according to distance travelled along congested roads (that is, their contribution to traffic congestion). While such a system is potentially a fairer implementation of ERP, such technology has more far-reaching implications.

Doing away with the gantry system means the LTA will have the flexibility to levy ERP fees on any road that becomes congested. With sufficient refinement, such technology could be extended to catch people who speed, trespass, stop or park illegally.

The ability to track individual vehicles could also be used to assist the authorities in criminal investigations. Vehicles suspected of use in criminal activities could be tracked and a record of their movements used as evidence. This could deter potential criminals and reduce, in particular, the number of vehicle-smuggling and theft-related offences.

Road usage could be monitored to identify and predict congested roads islandwide. This could assist in traffic light control, urban planning and development.

Such studies could improve our understanding of vehicle usage and provide a more rational basis for regulations governing certificates of entitlement (COEs) and vehicle numbers.

GPS systems have proven beneficial for companies that want to track the movement of their delivery and passenger vehicles (for example, taxis) so as to provide security features, navigational assistance and booking services. Making this mandatory for all vehicles means motorists in general could benefit from similar software applications - whether they want to or not.

Apart from cost issues, which are likely to be significant, there are serious privacy issues that need to be considered since individuals' vehicles could be tracked and logged. This is set against the continued debate on the effectiveness of the ERP system.

The LTA needs to address such concerns and provide comprehensive information on the intended use and proposed implementation of the GPS system.

Irvin Teh Tze Wei