MOTORISTS will get 'discounts' on electronic road-pricing (ERP) rates during the December school break.

This time, the reductions are $1 on most of the priced roads leading into the city. Charges which are currently at 50 cents, such as on Bendemeer Road, Thomson Road and Toa Payoh Lorong 6, will be removed.

The reduced rates apply from Nov 15 to Dec 31, in anticipation of lighter traffic that comes with the holiday period. Pre-school holiday charges will revert on Jan 2.

With the reduction, the highest ERP charge will be $4 (Pan-Island Expressway sliproad into Central Expressway, 8.30-9am), from $5 currenlty.

Evening ERP rates will be lowered accordingly. The gantry on the CTE before PIE will be turned off between 8pm and 10.30pm.

Rates on other gantries - largely those for the central business district - will remain unchanged because city traffic volume is traditionally not influenced significantly by school-going traffic.

The next ERP rate review will take place in February, said the Land Transport Authority on Monday.