Tollway users also at fault

THE last time I discussed the issue of tollway management and services, we focused on the services delivered (or not delivered) by both SMC Tollways and Metro Pacific Tollways.
It's clear that both companies have many improvements to make to satisfy their growing clientele, and they need to act quickly because the complaints are getting louder and more frequent.
In fact, last week, the government stopped the tollway companies from implementing an earlier Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) resolution that would penalize toll road users who are delinquent with their RFID requirements.
The TRB stated that much of the traffic and inconvenience experienced by toll road users are caused by motorists who fail to follow proper tollway usage guidelines.

This article agrees, at least in part, with what the TRB is saying: many tollway users are indeed responsible for some of the chaos occurring on the paid highways.
The toll companies are right — if you don't want to get an RFID account, then use roads that don't require one. There are alternative routes that are free and outside of the tollways.
For the northern areas, there are service roads or McArthur Highway, which runs through towns leading to northern destinations in Luzon, whether along the eastern or western seaboards, or even toward the mountainous regions.
For the south, there are service roads, as well as routes like Tramo, Baclaran, Airport Road, Ninoy Aquino Highway, Alabang-Las Piñas Road, and many others that can be used without entering the tollways.

These are options for those who complain that RFID accounts merely tie up their money, making it useless if they don't frequently use the tollways.
Regarding other complaints: why wouldn't you monitor your tollway account balance when you regularly check your ATM and credit card balances? For the North Luzon Expressway, there's the MPT Hub, which is easily accessible on your mobile phone and works perfectly. For South Luzon Expressway/Skyway, there's the EasyTrip app, which provides immediate access to your balance (though the app can be a bit cumbersome, especially for iPhone users).

Checking your balance takes about two minutes before you set off