Forum: Safety and reliability top priorities in OBU installation
We refer to Mr Ong Kok Soon's letter '
Advantages of ERP onboard units must not come at expense of safety or reliability ' (Aug 4).
Safety and reliability are top priorities in the roll-out of the on-board units (OBUs) in ERP 2.0. To date, we have successfully installed OBUs in more than 650,000 vehicles, or about 65 per cent of all vehicles in Singapore. All installations are carried out by trained technicians in authorised workshops. To uphold consistent standards, the Land Transport Authority conducts regular audits of these authorised workshops and follows up on feedback received.
As with any large-scale roll-out, some vehicles may also experience issues that require follow-up attention. When installed according to specifications, the OBUs do not interfere with vehicle systems. Investigations have also confirmed that OBUs were not the cause of any reported vehicle fires.
Some vehicle owners have encountered issues such as unresponsive displays or detection problems at carparks and gantries, which may be due to hardware or device malfunctions. Vehicle owners who face issues should return to the workshop that installed their OBU.
Unauthorised tampering with the OBU's wiring or placement were also found to affect OBU operations and functions. Vehicle owners are advised against adjusting the OBU positioning or wiring on their own, as this may affect its functionality and void its warranty.
The recommended mounting position of the touchscreen display was developed in consultation with the motor industry and research by the Nanyang Technological University. This included psychophysical and rigorous eye-tracking studies to ensure that drivers' vision is not obstructed.
Vehicle owners can also discuss preferred mounting positions with installers, fold down the screen, or choose to display information on their smartphones instead of the display unit.
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To enhance safety, the touchscreen operates only when the vehicle is stationary or moving at less than 15kmh. Owners can also adjust the sound and brightness of the touchscreen display to their preference.
We recognise that vehicle owners may need time to adapt when they install the new device. We thank owners for their support as we continue with OBU installations and introduce new features to improve driving experience. Vehicle owners can contact our ERP 2.0 Call Assist Service at 6377-2255 for any clarifications.
Lam Wee Shann
Deputy Chief Executive (Technology)
Land Transport Authority
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