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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) Spring Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign: Dispatch Ceremony Held!

(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. Prevent wrong-way driving accidents! Learn how to prevent wrong-way driving and what to do about it!
   Driving the wrong way is a dangerous act that can lead to tragic consequences, such as head-on collisions. On Expressway across the country, cases of wrong-way driving occur roughly once every two days, and occur every year in the Hokkaido Regional Head Office Office area.
   If you see a vehicle driving the wrong way, please report it to 110, notify a toll booth or rest facility attendant, or use the emergency phone at a rest facility. When reporting from a mobile phone, please make sure that a passenger in the vehicle is present.
   If you hear or see information about a wrong-way vehicle, don't panic. Slow down and keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. If you spot a wrong-way vehicle ahead, avoid a collision. Be especially careful as wrong-way vehicles tend to drive in the overtaking lane​ ​from your vehicle's perspective.
   Wrong-way driving often occurs near interchanges, toll gates, and SA/PA. To avoid driving in the wrong direction yourself, make sure you know which direction you are heading in before you set off. If you do find yourself driving in the wrong direction, don't panic and stop in a safe place. Don't stay in the car, but call 110 or a nearby emergency phone to report the incident.
   As a measure to prevent wrong-way driving, NEXCO EAST has installed warning signs, large arrow road markings, and rubber pole extensions and high-luminance arrow boards at Expressway junctions. In addition, we have posted a website on our website where you can learn about wrong-way driving, "Let's Eliminate Wrong-Way Driving," so please take a look.

   

   

   

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.