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NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office (Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo) and the Hokkaido Prefectural Police Traffic Department Expressway Traffic Police Unit (Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo) will be conducting a traffic safety campaign in late January for customers using Expressway service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) with the aim of preventing winter accidents (such as slippage accidents and rear-end collisions caused by winter phenomena such as snow accumulation, freezing, and poor visibility due to snowstorms).
According to the Hokkaido Prefectural Police, the number of traffic fatalities in 2024 was 104, the lowest since statistics began. In 2025, we will continue to prioritize safe driving and aim to further reduce tragic traffic fatalities. In January, when people have become accustomed to driving on winter roads, we will once again review points where accidents are likely to occur in winter, as well as precautions for winter driving such as observing speed limits and maintaining a safe distance between vehicles, so that people can mentally prepare for the harsh winter driving in February.

1. Dates and times for the winter accident prevention campaign

We will be holding a traffic safety campaign at SAs and PAs in Hokkaido to prevent winter accidents. In collaboration with the Hokkaido Prefectural Police (Expressway Traffic Police Unit), we will be encouraging customers using Expressway to drive safely and with an awareness of preventing winter accidents through street awareness campaigns and distribution of novelties.

• If you wish to cover the event, please fill out the attached "Interview Application Form" [PDF: 117KB] 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. Let's prevent winter accidents! Re-check the precautions for driving on winter roads!

Areas where winter accidents are likely to occur

Tips for driving Expressway in winter

1. Driving with "sudden" movements is strictly prohibited

   Even if there is no snowfall, the roads may be frozen due to the difference in temperature between morning and evening. Please refrain from sudden driving such as sudden starts, sudden steering, and sudden braking, as there is a risk of your car slipping and losing control.

   
2. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles

   Snowy and icy roads are slippery, many times more so than dry roads in other times of winter. If you do not keep a sufficient distance between vehicles, there is a risk that you will not be able to stop when the car in front of you slows down and you will rear-end the vehicle, so in winter, you should keep a larger distance between vehicles than in summer.

   
3. What to do when encountering a whiteout

   Whiteouts, in which everything turns white in an instant and you can't see anything, can occur even on sunny days due to ground blizzards caused by strong winds or the reflection of sunlight on snow particles. When you encounter a whiteout, slow down and maintain a sufficient distance between your car and the car in front of you, and turn on your headlights and hazard lights to prevent rear-end collisions with the cars in front and behind you.

   
4. Obeying winter speed limits

   In winter, the maximum speed on Expressway may be limited to 50-80km/h due to worsening road conditions and poor visibility. To ensure your own safety, please observe the winter speed limits.