The transport ministry said Wednesday that 50.2 percent of vehicles used the electronic toll collection system when they passed through toll booths on expressways between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6.

According to the report by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, the figure topped the ministry's target of 50 percent for the first time since operations of the ETC system began in 2001. The ministry had aimed at hitting the target last spring.

The ministry has raised the target to 70 percent to be met by this spring.

The ETC system is aimed at cutting back on the number of personnel who collect tolls and helping to ease traffic jams.