PDF version [PDF: 985KB]

NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office (Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo) will be implementing four initiatives to coincide with the National Spring Traffic Safety Campaign from April 6th (Sun) to 15th (Tue) to encourage safe driving among customers using Expressway.

1. "Tire Day" awareness-raising event held by four related organizations to prevent tire slippage
2. "Spring Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign Dispatch Ceremony" held jointly with the Hokkaido Prefectural Police
3. Traffic safety awareness quiz on Hokkaido Regional Head Office official X (formerly Twitter)
4. Traffic safety campaigns and street awareness-raising at service areas (SA), parking areas (PA), interchanges (IC) and roadside stations

1. Four initiatives and implementation details

(1) Four related organizations jointly hold "Tire Day" awareness-raising event to prevent tire slippage!

• Date and Time
  Tuesday, April 8, 2020 10:30-11:30
• place
  E5 Do-O Expressway Watatsu Parking Area (In-bound, Tomakomai direction)

As this is the time of year when many people switch from winter tires to summer tires, Hokkaido Prefectural Police, the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association, and the Hokkaido Transport Bureau will be holding a joint awareness campaign in honor of Tire Day (April 8th), urging customers to prevent accidents caused by tires coming off the road by checking tire pressure and whether nuts are loose.

• If you would like to cover the event, please fill out the necessary information on the "Interview Application Form" (Attachment 1 [PDF: 66KB]) and submit it by FAX.
• In the event of bad weather or an emergency, the event may be canceled or changed.

（2）春の全国交通安全運動　出動式を実施！

(For details,see Appendix 2 [PDF: 293KB])

• Date and Time
  Monday, April 7, 2025, 10:00-11:00 (scheduled)
• place
  NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office

Hokkaido Prefectural Police patrol cars and NEXCO EAST patrol cars will be on hand to ensure safety and security on Hokkaido's Expressway and prevent traffic accidents.
In addition, we will be welcoming the members of the "Seiho Gakuen Certified Childcare Center Oyachi" to the event, holding handmade flags to liven up the event! After the event, we plan to have visitors enjoy the display and ride of our patrol cars, as well as interact with our manners-improving mascots, "Manatee" and "Ikanzame."

• If you would like to cover the event, please fill out the necessary information on the "Interview Application Form" (Attachment 1 [PDF: 66KB]) and submit it by FAX.
• In the event of bad weather or an emergency, the event may be canceled or changed.

(3) Conducting a traffic safety awareness quiz on Official X (formerly Twitter)

NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Official X (formerly Twitter) will be encouraging safe driving through a quiz on traffic safety. Based on "2. NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Spring Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign Key Points", we will be asking questions about points to be careful of when using Expressway, so please use it to drive safely!

(4) Traffic safety campaigns and street awareness-raising at SAs, PAs, ICs, and roadside stations

During the period, a traffic safety campaign will be held at SA/PA, ICs, and roadside stations across Hokkaido. Together with Manners Improvement Character "Manatee," they will encourage safe driving to customers using Expressway through street awareness activities and the distribution of novelty items.

• In the event of bad weather or an emergency, the event may be canceled or changed.

Date and time (April)	place
7th (Monday) 9:30～10:30	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Asahikawa Takasu IC entrance
7th (Monday) 14:00～15:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Sunagawa SA (upper)
Tuesday 8th 16:00～17:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Iwamizawa SA (top)
Thursday 10th 11:00～11:30	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Mount Usu SA (top)
Thursday 10th 14:30～15:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Yakumo PA (upper and lower)
Friday 11th 13:00～14:00	Otofuke Roadside Station
Monday 14th 13:30～14:30	E38 Doto Expressway Shimukappu PA (Down)
Tuesday 15th 11:00～12:00	E5A Sasson Road Kanayama PA (Upper)

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

1. Check your tires to prevent tire skidding and bursts!

   The harsh winter is over and spring has arrived. It is time to change from winter tires to summer tires according to the road conditions, but during this time, tires are more likely to slip off the road.
   When a tire comes off while driving on Expressway, not only is it dangerous for the vehicle, but if the tire comes into contact with other vehicles and flies into the construction zone, it can also pose a danger to workers inside the zone. Please check that the nuts are not loose, and check and refill the air pressure of the replaced tires to help prevent tire come off accidents and tire bursts.

   
2. 逆走事故防止！逆走防止策＆対応策を身につけましょう！
   　逆走は、正面衝突事故など悲惨な結果を招きかねない危険な行為です。全国の高速道路では、概ね2日に1回の頻度で逆走事案が発生しており、北海道支社管内でも毎年発生しています。
   　逆走車を見かけたら、110番、料金所や休憩施設係員への申し出、休憩施設にある非常電話のいずれかで通報をお願いします。携帯電話から通報する際は必ず同乗者からお願いします。
   　逆走車情報を見聞きしたら、慌てずに速度を落とし、十分な車間距離をとって走行し、前方に逆走車を発見したら、衝突を避けてください。逆走車はご自身の車から見て追越車線を走行してくる傾向がありますので、特に注意してください。
   　逆走はICや料金所、SA・PA付近で多く発生しています。ご自身が逆走しないためにも、出発前には目的がどちらの方向かをしっかりと認識しましょう。万が一逆走してしまったら、慌てずに安全な場所に停車し、車内に留まらずに110番や近くの非常電話で通報してください。
   　NEXCO東日本では逆走防止対策として、注意喚起看板の他、大型の矢印路面標示、高速道路本線合流部ではラバーポールの延伸や高輝度矢印板を設置しています。また、逆走について学べるサイト「無くそう逆走」をHP上で公開していますので、ぜひご覧ください。

   

   

   

3. Don't look away! Keep your eyes on the road when driving!
   In temporary two-lane sections in Hokkaido, the installation of wire ropes has been promoted as a measure to prevent head-on collisions, and installation on earthwork sections and small and medium-sized bridges less than 50 meters long was completed by fiscal year 2021. In addition, as a measure for long bridges where wire ropes cannot be installed, center pipes and center blocks are being installed on a trial basis in parts of Hokkaido.
   These measures have greatly reduced the number of accidents involving vehicles jumping into the opposite lane, but on the other hand, the number of accidents involving contact with wire ropes caused by drivers not looking away or not paying attention to the road ahead is increasing. While driving, it's easy to be distracted by your smartphone or car navigation system, but if you're driving at 100km/h, your vehicle will move about 28m if you take your eyes off it for just one second. When driving, keep your eyes on the road and concentrate!

   

   

4. 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! (From traffic statistics from the Traffic Accident Comprehensive Analysis Center, a public interest foundation, 2022)
   However, the seat belt wearing rate on Expressway is 99.6% for drivers and 79.7% for rear seats, so the seat belt wearing rate in the rear seats is still lower than that in the driver's seat (National Police Agency/JAF survey 2024).
   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!

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.