Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi (SHP) 

Abu Dhabi, Jul 25: An official press announcement was made by Department of Transport (DoT), Abu Dhabi, regarding the execution of a new electronic toll collection system similar to the one in Dubai, which captures all the motorists coming and going through the tollgates. The electronic system will be active from October 15 this year. 

The system is put in action by the DoT to promote the use of Abu Dhabi's public transport. The DoT also aims to reduce the use of private vehicles while at the same time encouraging the concept of carpooling.

A total of four toll gates will be placed in different locations; Al Maqta Bridge, Musaffah Bridge, Sheikh Zayed Bridge and Sheikh Khalifa Bridge. The toll termed as Dh4 will available at peak hours; 7 am to 9 am, and 5 pm to 7 pm and the toll Dh2 will be available at non-peak hours. 

On Fridays and public holidays, the toll at Dh2 will be functioning throughout the day. A maximum fee of AED 16 will be charged per vehicle. The vehicles at the toll gates will be identified by their number plate and motorists will pay for toll gates through e-payment machines distributed across the emirate. A prepaid account specifically for the toll purposes should be maintained by the road user which could facilitate the user to manage their vehicles and to process payments. All Abu Dhabi registered vehicles will be automatically registered at no charge. 

The account holders will receive an automated message containing their user-name and password for the account where they have the freedom to add additional vehicles if they own any. For vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi, the owners must be registered in the system before they can cross the toll gates. 

In any event the vehicle is not registered in the toll gate system and ends up crossing the toll gates; he will be given 10 days of grace period to register. If the owner fails to register within the deadline, he will be liable to pay a fine. The fine can amounting from AED 100 for the first day, AED 200 for the second day, AED 400 for the third day, and can go up to a maximum of AED 10,000. 

Crossing the toll gates without sufficient balance in the user's account for vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi and after the grace period deadline, will result in a fine of AED 50 each day. 

In case users tamper with the vehicle's license plate to evade the payment of fee, the fine is AED 10,000. Additionally, causing damage to any e-payment machines or tollgates will result in a fine of AED 10,000. 

However, not all every vehicle is liable to pay the toll; Ambulances, Armed Forces and Civil Defence vehicles, public buses, taxis licensed in Abu Dhabi, school buses, police vehicles and Ministry of Interior vehicles will be exempt from it. For two years from the date of activation of the system, electric vehicles will be also exempt from the payment of the toll. 

Vehicle owners must keep the information on their license plates visible and legible at all times to ensure accurate data-reading by the system. The personal and vehicle information must be constantly updated in the account in the event of any data changes occur, which should carried out within five business days.