Why Have Evening ERP In The First Place?

Source : The Straits Times, Forum, Aug 31, 2007

BACK in 1998 when Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) was introduced to replace the Area Licensing Scheme, the reason given was that it was imperative that traffic in the Central Business District (CBD) be kept free flowing so as not to impair the conduct of business.

Then ERP was introduced for roads leading to the CBD. The public generally agreed that keeping traffic in the CBD free flowing requires the access roads to the CBD to be congestion free.

Rates were increased frequently in an attempt to improve the ever-deteriorating situation, especially on the CTE, but to not much avail.

The real problem was that there were too many cars and too little road space.

Again, the public acquiesced to the higher rates to support the efficient conduct of business.

Then ERP was introduced in the evening but it did not ease the traffic congestion. So now the authorities have decided to extend the ERP in the evening to a much later hour - 10.30pm. This may or may not solve the problem.

But traffic congestion in the evening is not the sore point. The sore point is having evening ERP in the first place. It runs contrary to the reason for introducing ERP - for better business efficiency. Going home from work and being caught in traffic is a pain that most people can tolerate, just like driving into town on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The ill effect is strictly personal and has nothing to do with the conduct of business.

The question that begs to be asked is why then are the authorities doing this? Have the authorities considered the ramifications?

With the extended evening ERP, motorists who do not want to pay are left with two choices - leave work early or get home much later. The former is not good for business. The latter will further adversely affect family life that is already poorer than in most other countries.

As a mother whose children are already working long hours, I urge the authorities not to cause them to return even later. The little time I spend with them in the evening is cherished by us.

Ivy Bragassam (Mrs)