SEPTEMBER 3 — The recent controversy over the use of automatic number plate recognition, or ANPR, for parking enforcement in Penang has understandably upset many motorists.

Among the complaints were that motorists were given too little time to pay for parking before being issued a compound. The system also could not always tell the difference between a vehicle that was parked illegally and one that had stopped briefly to pick up or drop off a passenger.

Thankfully, the state government subsequently suspended the use of ANPR for parking enforcement pending a review. Affected compounds were cancelled, while motorists who had already paid could seek refunds.

The episode exposed weaknesses in how the system was implemented. However, it should not distract us from the enormous potential of ANPR when it is used properly.

Many of us may already have encountered the technology without thinking much about it.

Like many others, I have used ticketless car parks where a camera reads my number plate when I enter and again when I leave. There is no need to wind down the window to collect a ticket, keep that ticket somewhere safe or queue at a payment machine before leaving. In fact, with the Flexiparking app which embeds the ANPR technology, I don't even need to stop my vehicle when I exit the car park.

It may sound like a small improvement, but these little conveniences add up. They save time, reduce queues and remove some of the minor frustrations that motorists have long accepted as unavoidable.

I had a similarly positive experience with JustGo when I drove back to my hometown in Kedah for Hari Raya Haji. At the time, the ANPR-based toll payment system was available only along selected stretches of the North-South Expressway.

After registering my vehicle and linking a payment card through the app, I could simply drive through the toll plaza. There was no need to buy or install an additional device in my car, and I was not restricted to a particular type of toll lane and usage was a breeze.

JustGo has since been expanded across the North-South Expressway, with the exception of the Penang Bridge. This is a practical example of how digital technology can make travelling more convenient for ordinary motorists. It also supports the longer-term move towards smoother and eventually barrierless toll collection.

The potential of ANPR goes beyond parking and toll payments. It can help the authorities identify stolen or unregistered vehicles, provide useful information for traffic planning and manage vehicle access to residential or commercial premises.

Enhancing our transportation system does not entail only building more highways and train tracks. It also involves integrating technology like ANPR to make travel more convenient and safe for all of us. And it's cheaper too!

However, greater use of technologies like ANPR must come with proper safeguards. For example, where enforcement is involved, motorists should be given a reasonable grace period. There should also be human review, an easy appeal process and safeguards against incorrect readings. The authorities and system operators must be clear about what vehicle data is collected, how it is used and how long it is retained.

Technology should make our journeys easier, safer and more convenient. The Penang episode should therefore be treated not as a reason to step back from technology but enhance its usage with proper safeguards. With proper use, technologies like ANPR can take us a long way forward.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.