Drivers will be able to use radio-frequency identification (RFID) lanes at all 83 of Plus Malaysia Bhd’s closed toll highway toll plazas, starting April 1.

Plus announced that the lanes would be available at toll plazas along its interstate highways on the North to South highway, including the LPT2 highway along the East Coast.

The toll operator started introducing RFID payment systems to its open toll plazas in stages back in August 2018, and completed the roll out to all 10 toll plazas on Jan 1.

An open toll plaza is where drivers pay immediately at the toll, while a closed plaza has drivers tapping in when going onto a highway, then paying at the toll they’re exiting or tapping out at. The fee is reflective of the distance between toll plazas.

Plus Malaysia managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said introducing RFID payments was meant to smoothen highway travel and reduce congestion at toll plazas.

“Through RFID, highway customers will no longer have to struggle with their Touch ‘n Go card reload as it can be easily done online through mobile phones and Touch ‘n Go eWallet applications which are directly linked to RFID Tags embedded on vehicles,” he said.

He predicts this will increase demand for RFID among Plus’ 1.7 million daily highway customers.