Forum: A hassle paying toll fee at Customs checkpoint

I used to leave my car in Singapore when going to Johor Bahru (JB) for a day trip. But recently, I drove into JB for the first time in more than a decade to collect my Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) as I expect to drive into Malaysia more often.

What I didn’t expect was the toll fee collection process at the Singapore Customs side. Touchless payment via the car’s in-vehicle unit (IU) or on-board unit (OBU) has been in place for many years, so I was surprised when the Customs officer asked me to insert my CashCard into an antique-looking metal box to pay the toll fee.

Next, I had to fumble to remove my CashCard from the OBU installed on the passenger side.

I had to repeat this process on my return trip after collecting the VEP tag. 

We have implemented an almost flawless IU/OBU system islandwide supporting the roll-out of a best-in-class electronic road management system. So why a metal box to collect toll payments?

If there are space constraints in installing a fee collection system at each Customs clearance booth, a single gantry at the exit point of the checkpoint to automatically deduct the toll fee might work.

Freeing up the space now taken up by the toll fee collection box will allow the QR code scanner to be placed nearer to the car window, making it easier to reach.

I hope the authorities can look into installing a seamless fee collection system at the checkpoints to make the motorist’s journey more convenient.

Ong Kok Weng