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NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office (Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo City) will hold a nationwide traffic safety campaign period from Saturday, September 21 to Monday, September 30 at the E5 Do-O Expressway (Hokkaido) Ring Thick Parking Area (PA) (In-bound Line, Tomakomai direction) at Hokkaido Police (Hokkaido Police Department) and Hokkaido Expressway Together with the Traffic Safety Council, we will conduct the "Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign Pre-Awareness Campaign" to reduce even one accident involving wrong-way driving and motorcycles.
During the period, we will also conduct educational activities and various traffic safety campaigns using SNS to call on traffic safety to customers who use Expressway.

1. Three initiatives in the Autumn Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign

1. Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign Pre-Awareness Campaign
2. Traffic safety awareness quiz on Hokkaido Regional Head Office official X (formerly Twitter)
3. During the period, road safety campaigns and street awareness-raising will be held at service areas (SA), parking areas, and interchange entrances (IC).

2. Three initiatives and implementation details

(1) Autumn Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign Pre-Awareness Campaign

• Date and Time
  2024 10:00-11:00
• place
  Do-o Expressway Watatsu PA (In-bound, heading towards Tomakomai)

• If you would like to cover the event, please fill out the attached "Interview Application Form [PDF: 104KB]" and submit it by FAX.

• In case of stormy weather or an emergency event, it may be canceled or the contents may be changed.

(2) Conducting a traffic safety awareness quiz at Official X

NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Official X calls for road safety through quizzes on road safety. We will ask questions about points to be careful of when using Expressway, such as "3. NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Autumn Nationwide Road Safety Campaign Key Points" on page 3, so please use it to drive safely!
[X Official Account]
NEXCO EAST (Hokkaido) (@e_nexco_kita)

(3) Traffic safety campaigns and street awareness activities at SA/PA and IC during the period

During the period, a traffic safety campaign will be held at SAs/PAs and ICs in Hokkaido, and together with the etiquette character "Manatee", we will encourage customers using Expressway to drive safely.

• In case of stormy weather or an emergency event, it may be canceled or the contents may be changed.

3. Key points of NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office 's Fall Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign

1. Reverse Driving Accident Prevention! Learn how to prevent & respond to reversing!
   There have been many cases of vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road throughout Japan. In Hokkaido Regional Head Office, a light car drove the wrong way on the Tuttaru Road in August, and although it did not result in an accident, it was a very dangerous situation.
   If you see or hear information about a vehicle driving the wrong way, do not panic, but slow down and keep a sufficient distance between vehicles.
   If you see a vehicle driving the wrong way, please call 110, inform a toll booth or rest facility attendant, or use one of the emergency telephones at the rest facility. When reporting from a cell phone, please make sure to do so from the passenger's side.
   Driving in the wrong direction often occurs at ICs, near toll booths, and at SAPAs. To prevent yourself from driving in the wrong direction, please be aware of which direction your objective is before you depart. If you happen to drive in the wrong direction, do not panic, stop at a safe place, do not stay in the car, and call 110 or a nearby emergency phone.
   NEXCO EAST In addition to warning signs, large arrow road surface markings, Expressway rubber poles and high-intensity arrow boards have been installed at the mainline merge to prevent reverse travel, and U-turn prevention measures have been strengthened at the merge.
   Also, NEXCO EAST has a website where you can learn about reverse driving, "Let's eliminate reverse running. Please take a look at our website for more information.

   

   

   

2. Don't look away! Keep your eyes on the road when driving!
   In temporary two-lane sections within the prefecture, the installation of wire ropes as a measure to prevent head-on collisions has been progressing, and installation on earthwork sections and small and medium-sized bridges less than 50 meters long was completed by fiscal year 2021.
   Additionally, as a measure to address the problem of long bridges on which wire ropes cannot be installed, new center pipes and center blocks are being installed on a trial basis in some parts of Hokkaido.
   As a result of these measures, the number of accidents involving vehicles running into the oncoming lane has decreased significantly. However, there has been an increase in accidents involving vehicles coming into contact with wire ropes due to drivers not looking away or paying attention to the road ahead.
   During the autumn sightseeing season, you may find yourself drawn to the beautiful scenery of Hokkaido while driving...
   If you're driving at 100km/h, your vehicle will move 28m if you take your eyes off it for just one second. Keep your eyes on the road and concentrate when driving!

   

   

3. Seat belts and child seats must be worn in all seats, including the back seats.
   The fatality rate of those not wearing seat belts in traffic accidents on Expressway is about 17 times higher than those who do wear seat belts! (Research conducted by the Traffic Accident Comprehensive Analysis Center, a public interest foundation, in 2021)
   However, the seat belt wearing rate on Expressway is 99.6% for drivers and 78.7% for rear seats, so the seat belt wearing rate in the rear seats is still lower than that in the driver's seat (according to a survey by the National Police Agency and JAF in 2023).
   It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that passengers in the rear seat and front passenger seat wear seat belts on Expressway and public roads, and failure to do so is a violation.
   To protect your loved ones and lives, please make sure to wear seat belts in all seats, including the driver's and passenger's seats, and make sure small children use child seats!
4. Be careful of motorcycle accidents!
   Autumn in Hokkaido is a beautiful season for motorcycle touring, but looking at data from the past three years, autumn is the season with the second highest number of accidents after summer in the Hokkaido Regional Head Office Office area.
   Please never slip between cars on the shoulders of the road, on shoulder strips, or between cars, as it is difficult for drivers to see and there is a high possibility of it leading to a serious accident!
   Also, since your entire body is exposed to the wind while driving, it can be very tiring, so be sure to take frequent breaks and drive safely!

[Click here for road information before and during your trip! ]

1. DraPla
   Click here to collect information on all Expressway.
2. DraTra
   Click here for real-time road information. You can also watch live cameras.
3. NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Official X (former Twitter) (@e_nexco_kita)
   Distributing traffic closure information and event information.
4. NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Official LINE
   You can receive road closure information and search for tolls and routes.

   

5. HEARTFUL HIGHWAY ~ Everyone's Manners on Everyone's Highway ~
   We introduce our etiquette characters "Manatee" and "Squid Shark" and manners on Expressway.