The UK Department of Transport is undertaking a programme of research into Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) for motorways. The first phase of the programme was undertaken at the Transport Research Laboratory's test track between November 1996 and June 1997 with two triallists, Bosch Telecom GmbH and GEC-Marconi Communications. The trials investigated the "front end" of tolling systems, namely the tolling transaction, violator detection, and vehicle classification components. This paper describes the trials design, and the preparation of an infrastructure at the test track suitable for trials of motorway tolling systems, and urban road charging systems. A dedicated trials support system was prepared and comprised a trials computer system, video monitoring system, vehicle location system, and an environmental monitoring station. Trials "scripts" were developed for a range of trials scenarios, and used as the basis for testing the tolling systems with a range of vehicle manoeuvres, including manoeuvres not possible on a live motorway. The trial programme provided the opportunity to investigate the technologies and the potential of ETC systems for application on the UK motorway network.
Abstract