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NEXCO EAST Kanto Regional Head Office (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture) conducted a winter tire installation status survey (first) at a rest facility in the jurisdiction in mid-December with the aim of enlightening safe driving on snowy roads. did.
The installation rate of winter tires was 51.8% for compact cars, 87.1% for large cars, and 60.1% on average for all models.

On snowy and icy roads, driving with summer tires will increase the number of accidents compared to winter tires.
Even in the metropolitan area where it does not normally snow, road surface freezes and snowfall can occur. In January 2018, heavy snowfall occurred in a wide area centering on the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Expressway closures occurred in various places on the expressways in the jurisdiction, and many accidents due to slips also occurred.
Driving with summer tires on snowy or icy roads is extremely dangerous, so please wear winter tires or carry tire chains for a safe drive.
In addition, during unusual heavy snowfalls such as heavy snow emergency warnings and emergency announcements regarding heavy snowfalls, we may impose "chain restrictions" that allow winter tires to run without chains.
On winter Expressway, carry tire chains in case of emergency, and if such heavy snowfall is expected in advance, please refrain from going out unnecessarily.

1 Overview of winter tire installation status survey

Investigation period

2019, December 11 (Wednesday) and December 15 (Sun)
* Some break facilities will be held before and after
* The next survey will be conducted around mid-January 2020

Survey location

2 Results of winter tire installation status survey (number of surveys: 3,237 in total)

Winter tire installation rate (by metropolitan area / snow areas)

• In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the installation rate is 31.2% for small cars and 83.5% for large cars.
• In snowfall areas, the installation rate is 76.8% for small cars and 95.0% for large cars.

Winter tire installation rate (year-on-year comparison)

• Compared to the same period last year, in the metropolitan area, both small and large vehicles are lower than last year. On the other hand, in the snowfall area, although the installation rate of large vehicles has already exceeded the installation rate of last year, the installation rate of small vehicles is still low.

Survey results (mounting rate / number of surveys) at each rest facility

3 Request from NEXCO EAST Kanto Regional Head Office

• Please "wear early winter tires and carry a tire chain before snowfall".
  Since summer tires are prone to slip on snowy roads, slip accidents on winter roads can lead to serious accidents, so please wear winter tires early and carry the tire chain.
• Please drive slowly and safely when driving on snowy roads.
  Even if you are wearing winter tires, please keep the distance between cars enough and keep your speed down. Do not operate with sudden changes such as sudden steering or braking, and drive slowly and safely.
• Please "collect information before and after going out".
  The weather on the Expressway winter changes rapidly. Even if the place of departure is sunny, it may snow at the destination or at the passing point, so be sure to check the road and weather information frequently before and during your trip.

"DraTra"

Weather information (forecasts and live conditions) Snow road information (live cameras, etc.)

"Prediction of snow impact on Expressway"

When heavy snow is expected, such as when a "heavy snow special warning" or "emergency announcement by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for heavy snow" is made, we will provide information such as Expressway
In order to deliver such information to more customers, we have been collaborating with weather information company Weathernews Inc. since last year, and in collaboration with other Expressway companies, a new information provision site "Snow Expressway Impact Prediction" Is provided. In case of heavy snow, please check the information providing site and ask for your cooperation, such as suspending travel to heavy snow areas and detouring over a wide area.