Roadside parking payment via OBU now underway for 1,000 trial users

Singapore has commenced a trial allowing 1,000 motorists to pay for roadside parking using their vehicle’s on-board unit (OBU) starting August 3. The trial, managed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, covers 644 designated car parks with about 19,000 spaces, making up the majority of Singapore's roadside parking spaces. This pilot is part of the transition to the satellite-based Electronic Road Pricing system, or ERP 2.

Only the touchscreen display within the OBU setup allows for parking payments, unlike smartphone apps that display ERP charges and traffic information.

To begin a parking session, motorists tap the “P” icon on the touchscreen or a prompt appears when the engine is turned off, enabling them to start the session. In cases of multiple car parks, a list is displayed for selection. The display remains active for approximately two minutes before shutting down. If the screen is turned off, motorists can restart the ignition or use existing payment methods like the Parking.SG app. Automatic shutdown occurs when the vehicle leaves the parking space.

LTA aims to provide motorists with a smoother parking experience, with the Parking.SG app continuing to operate post-implementation. Payment is made via the CEPAS card or backend services such as AXS Drive, EZ-Link Motoring Services, and Nets Virtual CashCard. Additional features being tested include "ERP Ahead" notifications and visual cues for ERP toll charging. LTA seeks user feedback to refine these features before the full rollout of ERP 2, which will replace the current gantry-based system by early 2024.