SLEX installs automatic license plate readers for faster RFID scanning

Motorists who frequently travel along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) will be able to pass through toll plazas at a faster rate. This comes after San Miguel Corporation (SMC) recently announced they will enhance the expressway’s cashless toll collection system.

The company has started installing automatic license plate readers (ALPR) on several entry toll plazas on SLEX to reduce the need for barriers. The upgrades are in line with the government’s directive to implement contactless and barrier-less plazas along SLEX.

The new ALPRs will work alongside the existing RFID tags to cross-reference the entry and exit of vehicles by reading and recording the license plates of motorists passing through the expressway. More importantly, the use of ALPRs will result in more accurate charging of tolls.

Aside from that, SMC also announced that the SLEX expansion to 6x6 lanes is on track for Q4 completion, including the 36.1-kilometer main carriageway which will have 6 lanes on each side. The upgrades are part of the tollway concessionaire’s continuing efforts to future-proof the major tollway to prevent the formation of bottlenecks further. In addition, SMC has also started expanding some 20 bridges along the expressway.

“SMC SLEX Inc. understands the importance of SLEX in supporting the growth trajectory of the Calabarzon Region, which accounts for about 20% of the country's GDP. Once the facility upgrades are completed, it will improve the quality of travel of the general motoring public, and result to faster movement of goods and services as well,” said the company in a statement.

With SMC busy upgrading SLEX as well as installing ALPRs to accommodate better RFID users who use the expressway, we’re hoping to see there will be fewer slow-downs at the toll plazas during peak hours.