Its been four years since the electronic toll collection system, or ETC, was launched on highways all across Taiwan, but the adoption rate still hasnt reached the level that FETC,the system provider, earlier promised.Now, facing potential penalties by the government, the company offers an array of incentives, including transponder discounts, in the hope of attracting more users.

　　The introduction of the electronic toll collection system four years ago was supposed to be revolutionary. Highway drivers with ETC would never have to worry about waiting in lines when approaching toll stations.But today, more than half of the drivers in Taiwan are still reluctant to use it.According to the contract between FETC, the system　provider, and the National Freeway Bureau, penalties including fines or even early contract termination will be imposed if the adoption rate of ETC fails to reach 45 percnt by the end of June.And up to this point, FETC still falls short of that mark by nearly 9 percent.

　　In order to close the gap as soon as possible, FETC recently announced a series of promotional measures, such as a 14 percent discount for transponders, and an ETC trial period that does not require any in-car installation of related equipment. FETC estimates that around 700,000 new users will be attracted by these incentives. But some people are less optimistic.

　　This man complains that the new measure does not seem fair to early ETC adopters, for FETC shouldnt have charged them for the in-car devices in the first place.The National Freeway Bureau claims that it will keep a watchful eye on the company, and do the best it can to protect the rights of all ETC users.

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