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NEXCO EAST Niigata Regional Head Office (Chuo-ku, Niigata City) will be installing its fourth winter tire this winter at the service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) of four Expressway in Niigata Prefecture on Tuesday, December 4. We conducted a rate survey.

　Winter tire installation rate is 96% for large vehicles and 81% for small vehicles Although the installation rate has improved compared to the previous survey, about 20% of customers of small cars still do not have winter tires installed.

　Prediction of snowfall throughout Niigata Prefecture starting this weekend It is very dangerous to drive on Expressway ordinary tires. Please change to early winter tires and carry the chain with you.

In addition, this survey is conducted for the purpose of promoting early replacement of winter tires and enlightening safe driving on snowy roads. It will be done every week until the installation rate reaches 90% for both large and small vehicles.

1 Outline of the winter tire installation rate survey

Survey method

• Surveyor visually confirms the tire type of the vehicle parked in the SA / PA surveyed
• Investigate about 50 units at one location
• Large vehicles are oversized vehicles, large vehicles, medium-sized vehicles, and small vehicles are regular vehicles and light vehicles classified by charge type.

• The number of vehicles surveyed may change depending on how the parking lot is used.

Survey place

　E17 Kan-Etsu Expressway / Tanigawadake PA, E8 Hokuriku Expressway / Kurosaki PA, Hokuriku Expressway / Yoneyama SA, E18Joshin-Etsu Expressway / Myoko SA
* All conducted on the Out-bound line

Scheduled survey date / result announcement date * The survey date is subject to change due to weather and other reasons.

2 Survey results (number of surveys: 214)

3 Request from NEXCO EAST Niigata branch office

• Please "install winter tires early before snowfall" and "carry a chain".
  This year, on November 22, we observed the first snow in the mountains of the Expressway in the prefecture and are carrying out snow removal work. In addition, snowfall is expected throughout Niigata Prefecture, including the plains, this weekend, so please replace your tires with winter tires as soon as possible.
  Also, in the case of heavy snow, you may be required to attach a chain even for winter tires, so please be sure to carry a chain with you.
• Please drive slowly and safely when driving on snowy roads.
  At the beginning of the snow season, driving sensations on snowy roads have not been restored, and even with winter tires, there is a tendency to cause traffic accidents.
  Make sure to keep the distance between vehicles more than usual, and keep your speed down. Do not perform operations with "sudden" such as "sudden steering wheel," "accelerated acceleration," or "sudden braking" and drive slowly and safely.
• Please "collect information diligently before and during your outing".
  The Expressway winter changes suddenly. Even if the departure point is sunny, it may snow at the destination or passing point, so please wear winter tires and carry tire chains.
  Also, please check the road information and weather information frequently before going out or in the service area.
  　"Drive Traffic (DraTra)" provides traffic congestion prediction, real-time traffic information, Expressway weather (snow road) prediction, and road surface condition (snow road live camera) information.

• "NEXCO EAST Niigata branch office twitter @ e_nexco_ niigata"
  Information on driving and travel in Niigata Prefecture is being sent.
  For traffic information and traffic closure information, please check the drive traffic "DraTra".