NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office (Sapporo Atsubetsu District Oyachi, Regional Head Office length: Kubotera Katsuji) is, Obon period [2006 August 9 (Wed) - 2006 August 22 (Tuesday): 14 days] of, I would like to inform you about the tendency of traffic jams due to traffic concentration on Expressway in Hokkaido, the places where traffic jams are predicted and the required transit time, etc. as summarized in the attached document.

Please use it to create a comfortable travel plan by shifting your departure time before and after the time when peak traffic congestion is expected.

At toll booths where congestion is expected to occur, temporary booths will be installed to reduce congestion.

Also, traffic conditions may change due to accidents or abnormal weather. Please confirm the road conditions on the day of use at the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, highway telephone, etc. before departure.

1 Congestion prediction

(1) Trend of traffic congestion
It is predicted that the peak will be from Saturday, August 12th to Tuesday, August 15th. (2) Locations where transit is predicted and required transit time

*IC means interchange.
Note) The traffic congestion at the Yubari IC exit is considered to be due to the traffic congestion on the connecting Route 274. Please confirm the road conditions on the day of use at the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, highway telephone, etc. in advance.

-Reference: Traffic jam situation last year-

Last year's Bon Festival <Wednesday 10th to 23rd Tuesday> 1km or more of traffic jam

Occurrence record 9 locations 12 times in total (main locations are as follows)

Traffic jam information

(1) On the Internet

(2) By phone

(3) Road traffic information available while driving

(4) At rest facility

Request to customers

During this period, Expressway and service areas are expected to be crowded. Please make a comfortable usage plan based on this traffic congestion forecast. We also ask our customers to do the following in order to drive safely.

1. Wear your seat belt in the back seat
   The seat belt softens the lifeline and the impact on the body during a collision. Please wear seat belts not only in the driver's seat and passenger seat, but also in the rear seats.
2. Be careful of rear-end collisions at the end of traffic jams
   When a traffic jam occurs, a rear-end collision is likely to occur in the traffic jam or at the end of the traffic jam. Don't look aside, try to drive safely, and if you are in a traffic jam, use a hazard lamp to signal the car behind you to prevent a rear-end collision.
3. Keep a sufficient distance between ETC lanes and drive slowly to drive safely.
   In the ETC lane, keep a sufficient distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, slow down sufficiently so that you can safely stop before the opening/closing bar, and check that the opening/closing bar is open before passing.
4. In the unlikely event of an accident or breakdown, immediately evacuate to a safe place.
   Incidents of people being hit by the Expressway are increasing.
   If you stop due to a traffic accident or breakdown, staying on the road is very dangerous. If you notify a following vehicle of danger by using a hazard lamp, a triangular stop sign, or a smoke tube, please be careful of the passing vehicle and immediately evacuate to a safe place such as outside the guardrail. Also, please make an emergency phone call.
5. Take a moderate break and drive safely
   Driving at night or driving for a long time is easy to get tired. Take appropriate breaks in the service area and try to drive safely.
   In addition, please be aware that there are some cases in which the wrong direction of approach has been entered from the service area, etc., causing the car to run backwards on the main Expressway and lead to an accident.
6. Refuel and toilet early
   Please refuel and toilet as soon as possible, such as before the traffic jam section.