Remember the upgrades that the NLEX Corporation has been making to NLEX and SCTEX? Well, the operator is keeping them coming to improve its toll-collection system. Before, faulty hardware usually failed to read the tags installed on cars. This turned toll plazas into choke points with crazy-long queues.

To improve the system further, more toll booths on both expressways will be featuring automatic license plate recognition and RFID early-detection devices. Currently, these systems are employed at NLEX’s Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Karuhatan and Paso de Blas toll plazas, and SCTEX’s Tarlac toll plaza.

Starting next month and the first quarter of 2022, lanes at Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas, Tabang, Santa Rita, San Fernando and Angeles will be equipped with ALPR readers (bringing the total to 95).

Also, these devices will be part of a no-contact apprehension policy that the NLEX Corporation and the Land Transportation Office are working on. It can help identify users in RFID lanes without tags, those with insufficient balance, and those driving unsafe vehicles.

As for the RFID early-detection systems, expect them in 29 more lanes (bringing the total to 217) starting January 2022. These scanners can detect up to three vehicles and process the transactions in advance for a smoother traffic flow.

Hopefully, a good deal of these upgrades will be fitted before the holiday season to help with traffic going north, especially with the increased flow of tourists and people going home.