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NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office (Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo City) will call on customers who use Expressway to be safe during the autumn national traffic safety campaign from September 21 (Sun) to 30 (Tue).
Prior to the traffic safety campaign, on Thursday, September 18, we will jointly carry out the "Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign Awareness Pre-Campaign" with the Hokkaido Police at the E5 Do-O Expressway (Do-O Expressway) Wheel Thickness Parking Area (PA) (In-bound Line, Tomakomai direction) to reduce even one accident involving wrong-way driving and motorcycles.

1. Autumn Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign: Three Initiatives and Implementation Details

① Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign Awareness Pre-Campaign

• Date and Time
  Thursday, September 18, 2020 10:00-11:00
• place
  Do-o Expressway Watatsu PA (In-bound, heading towards Tomakomai)

• If you would like to interview the event, please fill out the necessary information in the attached document [PDF: 46KB] and send it by email or fax by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 17th.

• In case of stormy weather or an emergency event, it may be canceled or the contents may be changed.

②Traffic safety campaigns and street awareness-raising at SAs, PAs, ICs, etc.

During the period, traffic safety campaigns will be held at service areas, parking areas (SA/PA) and interchanges (IC) throughout Hokkaido, and together with Manners Improvement Character "Manatee", customers using Expressway will be encouraged to drive safely through the distribution of novelties and street awareness campaigns.

• In case of stormy weather or an emergency event, it may be canceled or the contents may be changed.

List of scheduled events

Date and time (September)	place
22nd (Monday) 10:00-11:00	E38 Doto Expressway Otofuke Obihiro IC (entrance/exit)
24th (Wednesday) 16:00-17:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Iwamizawa SA (In-bound, towards Sapporo)
25th (Thursday) 11:00-12:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Tarumae SA (In-bound, towards Hakodate)
26th (Fri) 10:00-11:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Asahikawa Takasu IC (entrance/exit)
26th (Fri) 11:00-12:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Usuzan SA (In-bound, towards Hakodate)
26th (Fri) 14:00-15:00	E5 Hokkaido Expressway Sunagawa SA (In-bound, towards Sapporo)
27th (Sat) 10:00-11:00	Hakodate Green Plaza *
29th (Monday) 11:00-12:00	E5A Sasson Road Kanayama PA (In-bound, towards Otaru)

• Raising awareness in front of NEXCO EAST booth at the event "Gourmet Wonder Park Hakodate 2025"

3) 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 traffic safety quiz. Based on page 3, "2. NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Autumn Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign Key Points," questions will be asked about points to be aware of when using Expressway, so please use it to drive safely!

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

1. Prevent wrong-way driving accidents! Learn how to prevent and deal with wrong-way driving!
   Driving the wrong way is a dangerous act that can lead to tragic consequences, such as head-on collisions. On Expressway across the country, a wrong-way driving incident occurs roughly once every two days.
   If you see or hear about a wrong-way vehicle, don't panic; slow down, maintain a safe distance, and if you spot a wrong-way vehicle ahead, avoid a collision. Be especially careful as wrong-way vehicles tend to drive in the overtaking lanefrom your perspective.
   If you see a vehicle driving the wrong way, please report it to 110, the road emergency number (#9910), or by speaking to a toll booth or rest facility attendant, or by using the emergency phone at a rest facility. When reporting from a mobile phone, please make sure that a passenger in the car makes the report.
   Wrong-way driving often occurs near interchanges, toll gates, and service areas/parking areas. To avoid driving in the wrong direction yourself, make sure you know which direction your destination is before you set off. If you do end up driving in the wrong direction, don't panic; stop in a safe place and don't stay in your car. Call 110, the road emergency number (#9910), or a nearby emergency phone number.
   As a measure to prevent wrong-way driving, NEXCO EAST has installed warning signs, large arrow road markings, extended rubber poles, and high-brightness arrow boards at Expressway junctions. We also have a website on our website called "Let's Eliminate Wrong-Way Driving" where you can learn more about wrong-way driving, so please take a look.

   

   

   

2. Be careful of motorcycle accidents!
   Autumn in Hokkaido is a beautiful season for motorcycle touring, but based on past accident trends, there are many motorcycle accidents from summer to autumn.
   Please never slip between cars on the shoulder of the road, on shoulders, or between cars, as this is difficult for cars to see and there is a very high possibility of a serious accident!
   Also, while driving, your entire body is exposed to the wind, which can make you very tired, so be sure to take frequent breaks and drive safely!

   

   While driving on Expressway, you may have seen carp streamers standing on the side of Expressway along with a sign saying "Beware of crosswinds." These "windsocks" set up on Expressway are useful for understanding the wind direction and strength at that point. If you see a windsock blowing sideways, be prepared for a crosswind, don't push yourself, and take a break at the next service area or parking area.
3. Do not use your smartphone while driving or look away from the road! Always focus on what's ahead while driving!
   In temporary two-lane sections within Hokkaido, we are proceeding with the installation of wire ropes as a measure to prevent head-on collisions, and installation was completed by fiscal year 2021 on earthwork sections and small and medium-sized bridges less than 50 meters long.
   Additionally, as a measure to address the issue of long bridges where wire ropes cannot be installed, new center pipes and center blocks are being installed on a trial basis in some parts of Hokkaido.
   These measures have significantly reduced the number of accidents involving vehicles running into the opposite lane, but on the other hand, there has been an increase in accidents involving vehicles coming into contact with wire ropes due to drivers not looking away or not paying attention to the road ahead.
   During the autumn tourist season, you may find yourself drawn to the beautiful scenery of Hokkaido while driving, but if you're driving at 70km/h and you take your eyes off the road for just one second, your vehicle will move approximately 19m. So, keep your eyes on the road and concentrate while driving!

   

   

4. Don't drink and drive, don't let others drink and drive, don't tolerate it, and don't overlook it. Never drink and drive.
   Don't drink and drive, don't let others drink and drive, don't tolerate it, and don't overlook it. This applies whether on regular roads or Expressway.
   On July 13, 2014, a drunk driving hit-and-run incident occurred in Otaru City, resulting in four deaths and injuries.
   The following June, a drunk driving hit-and-run incident occurred in Sunagawa City, leaving five members of a family dead or injured.
   In Hokkaido, the "Hokkaido Ordinance for the Eradication of Drunk Driving" was enacted in December 2015 as a consensus of the people of the prefecture, with the aim of each and every resident taking voluntary action to eradicate drunk driving from the prefecture as soon as possible and realizing a society where people can live in peace. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ordinance's enactment.
   The determination of each individual will lead to the eradication of drunk driving. Not only for yourself, but for your family, friends, and everyone else, let's never drink and drive.

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 (formerly Twitter) (@e_nexco_kita)

   We are currently providing information on road closures, expected dates for reopening, and event information.

   
4. NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office Official LINE

   You can receive information on road closures and when road closures are expected to be lifted, as well as search for fares 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.