71% of motorists not e-tagged: Outa
New research conducted by the Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) indicates that as many 71% of motorists have not bought an e-tag.
An e-tag is an electronic device which enables motorists a concession for The South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) e-toll system on Gauteng’s freeways.
With e-tolling now into its third month of operation, Outa’s research indicates that freeway users are largely steadfast and exercising strong levels of civil disobedience by not getting e-tagged to the levels required by Sanral.
According to the opposition group, 71% of a sample size of 2,700 vehicles – counted during peak hour traffic at nine different on/off ramps during early February – did not have e-tags fitted.
Outa’s previous research finding on 12th December 2013 (within two weeks of the gantries going live), found that only 15% of users had bought into the system.
“But those were the early start up days and we knew the number would climb in the first few months, however, with Sanral’s threatening behaviour we expected the e-tag uptake to be much higher by now,” said John Clarke, spokesperson for Outa.
“Despite Sanral’s intimidation tactics, Outa has been pleasently surprised at the civil courage of Gauteng citizens who have largely resisted and displayed a relatively low e-tag uptake” said Clarke who added “for e-Tolling to be successful, compliance levels had to be well over the 85% level.
In early January, Sanral said it had sold 960,000 e-tags, one month after launch.
Clarke pointed out that Sanral has failed to inspire public confidence in it’s systems, “which, compounded by security breaches, offensive remarks by their spokesperson, misleading statements, chaotic billing and erroneous data have done extreme harm to the legitimacy of the system”.
President Jacob Zuma recently scolded Sanral for the e-toll billing problems, prompting Sanral CEO Nazir Alli to promise prompt remedies.
However, Outa noted that complaints to the group and other social media sites have not abated, with large fleet owners and logistic companies now adding their voices of concerns and anger at the cumbersome adminisration and high cost impact that e-tolling is having on business.
On Tuesday (11 February), Peter Mountford, CEO of listed transport logistics and mobility firm, Super Group, bemoaned the cost effect of e-tolls on his business.
Outa called on the President Zuma to display some civil courage in his State of the Nation speech on Thursday, by calling off the “ill-conceived e-tolling system”.
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