Admit it, one of the worst parts of a road trip is being stuck at a toll plaza or a toll booth. Many developed countries have already moved on to cashless toll booths that read transponders attached to a vehicle’s windshield. German Automaker, Audi has taken this technology one notch up and has found a way in which you don’t have to worry about attaching any device to your windshields, neither would require any use of a velcro strip.
Audi’s “integrated toll module” (ITM) comes affix into the rearview mirror and is already compatible with toll roads in America and certain parts of Canada and Mexico. This new ITM technology is developed by Gentex Corporation, which also is a supplier to all auto-dimming rearview mirrors found in Audi vehicles.
This new technology has allowed Audi to unclutter its cars’ windshield and at the same time eliminates the need to manage several accounts for different regional toll roads. Drivers can use Audi’s existing MMI infotainment system to turn the transponder on or off and can even track lanes for the cars. This new technology has been regarded by Audi has “Vehicle-to-infrastructure” technology (V2I). VTI often allows cars, buildings and cranes to send transfer and emit data, similar to car-to-car communications which is being attempted by autonomous driving. This technology aims at increasing safety for both drivers and passengers in a vehicle. Companies like Continental will soon also be testing a “smart intersection” in Ohio, that uses V2I technology to improve pedestrian safety says a report on Digital Trends.
Watch our 2018 Audi Q5 video review here:
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However, Audi is using its ITM from more of a convenience point of you and not safety. But, it is a necessary feature to have and in fact, more the cars have it is good for easy movement of traffic. The technology’s ability to read a car’s location and link it to a digital-payment system also will interest a lot of companies like PayTm to make the most of this. This will reduce congestions at highways and reduce long waiting period at the toll booths.
Now lies the big question, the technology is available, but India does not have the infrastructure or the lane discipline to support this technology, While Modi-government is pushing cash-less transaction and whole Digital India, not real progress has been made on this front especially at toll booths. Cash is still the preferred and the quickest way to complete a transaction at a toll plaza. Many toll plazas have started accepting PayTm money but the number of users using it is still not significant.
Many tech start-ups and existing e-wallet companies should use this to their advantage to generate new sources of revenue by collaborating with various state-operated toll booths.
