Congestion prediction on Expressway during the year-end and New Year period [Tohoku version]

~Peak traffic is December 30th (Saturday) for Out-bound traffic and January 2nd (Tuesday) for In-bound traffic.
Make sure you have winter gear such as winter tires when you depart.

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  • Congestion prediction on Expressway during the year-end and New Year period [Tohoku version]

PDF version [PDF: 3.1MB]

November 28, 2020
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Tohoku Regional Head Office

NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office (Miyagino-ku, Sendai City) has announced that it Expressway We have compiled predictions of congestion due to traffic concentration.

1. 1. Congestion forecast

 東北地方の高速道路では、年末年始を故郷で過ごされるお客さまなどで交通が集中するものの、交通集中による5km以上の渋滞は発生しないと予測しています。交通量のピークは、下り方面が12月30日(土)、上り方面が1月2日(火)となる見込みで、出発日や出発時刻をずらすなど、分散利用をお願いします。
 また、例年、事故を原因とする渋滞が発生しています。ご出発の際には冬用タイヤなどの冬装備を万全に安全運転を心掛けていただき、高速道路情報等を活用したゆとりある旅行計画を立ててご出発ください。

2. When using the Expressway in winter

  • Before you depart, please check the latest road information on Expressway traffic information site "DraTra", LINE, X (formerly Twitter), etc.
  • Rest facilities are expected to be crowded during the year-end and New Year holidays, so please refuel, power up, and use the restroom as early as possible.
    We also ask that you park in the designated spaces for easy access for large vehicles.
  • If the car stops due to an accident or breakdown at Expressway, do not stand on the road, stay in the car, and immediately evacuate to a safe place such as outside the guardrail.

◆Notes regarding ETC holiday discounts
Holiday discounts are not applicable during the year-end and New Year period.

3. Rest facilities that require attention to congestion

Rest facilities in the Tohoku region during the year-end and New Year holidays are usually crowded with customers using Expressway on their way home.
As a measure against congestion, we plan to deploy parking lot marshals at some rest facilities. In addition, we will focus on securing parking spaces for large vehicles to make it easier for large vehicles to use the facility. Please note that some rest facilities are not staffed by parking lot attendants from night to morning, so please park in designated spaces that are easily accessible for large vehicles.

Prefecture Route Break facility that needs attention to congestion
Fukushima E4 Tohoku Expressway Vertical line Kagamiishi PA, Azumi PA, Adachi Tara SA, Fukushima Matsukawa PA, Azuma PA, Kunimi SA
E6 Joban Expressway Vertical line Shikura PA, Minamisou Bakajima SA
E49 Ban-Etsu Expressway Vertical line Abukuma Plateau SA
Miyagi E4 Tohoku Expressway Vertical line Sugo PA
  • “SA” stands for service area and “PA” stands for parking area.

≪Reference≫ Congestion measures at rest facilities, etc.
Arrangement of parking lot sorters at rest facilities, etc. and image of securing large car spaces Measures to call attention to speed reduction on In-bound, etc. Image image of measures to call attention to rear-end collisions at the end of traffic jams

Four. Request from NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office

~ Before departure ~

  • 心の準備と車の冬装備を万全に
    冬期の高速道路は事故が発生しやすくなっています。ご出発前には、冬用タイヤなどの冬装備を万全にしてください。(別紙1【PDF:2.0MB】参照)
  • ゆとりある旅行計画をお願いします
    渋滞予測情報をご活用いただき、高速道路のご利用に際しては、渋滞の発生が予測される日時をずらすなどの分散利用により渋滞回避を図り、ゆとりある旅行計画でご出発ください。また、ご出発直前には高速道路情報サイト『ドラとら』などで最新の道路交通情報をご確認ください。
    給油給電トイレは、高速道路をご利用になる前や渋滞区間の手前にあるSA・PAなどにおいてなるべくお早めにお済ませください。
  • 車の故障や積荷の落下等のトラブル予防をお願いします
    高速道路ご利用の前にはガソリン残量タイヤの空気圧などの事前点検を実施し、高速道路上でのトラブル予防をお願いします。また、落下物防止のために出発前には荷物の固定の確認をお願いします。

~ On the Expressway ~

  • 後部座席でもシートベルトを着用
    高速道路では、後部座席を含む全席でシートベルト着用が法律で義務づけられています。
    必ず着用して下さい。
  • 逆走は命にかかわる危険行為です
    高速道路は指定された方向にしか進めません案内標識路面標示にて進行方向を十分確認し、走行してください。
    URL:無くそう逆走-高速道路は一方通行です-
  • 適度な休憩をとって安全運転を
    夜間運転長時間運転により疲労がたまりがちになります。居眠りなどによる事故を防止するために、SA・PAなどを利用して適度な休憩をとり、安全運転の心掛けをお願いします。
  • 駐車スペースの適切なご利用を
    混雑時の対策として、駐車場整理員を配置し駐車スペースを適切にお客さまがご利用できるように努めます。また、大型車もご利用しやすいように指定されたスペースに駐車いただきますようお願いします。
    別紙2【PDF:235KB】参照)

-To avoid an accident-If an accident occurs-

(See Attachment 3 [PDF: 290KB])

  • 後続車に合図
    渋滞区間内での追突事故を防止するために、前方に渋滞を確認した場合には、ハザードランプを点灯して後続車への合図をするようにご協力お願いします。
  • 絶対に歩き回らず、安全な場所へ避難
    万一、事故や故障が起こったら、ハザードランプを点灯し、発炎筒や三角停止表示板を設置してから、運転者も同乗者もガードレールの外などの安全な場所にすみやかに避難してください。その後、110番非常電話などで通報をお願いします。
  • 道路の異常・緊急事態を発見したら
    道路の異常や落下物を発見した場合、道路緊急ダイヤル『#9910』に通報をお願いします。

Five. Providing traffic jam information, etc.

For safe and comfortable driving on Expressway, you can easily obtain the latest Expressway information (congestion conditions, road surface conditions, road conditions, etc.) on your computer or mobile phone. Please use it before departure.

  • The use of mobile phones and smartphones while driving is prohibited. When using it, please operate it before departure, during breaks, or by a passenger.

Traffic jam prediction information

  • Information on special website during traffic congestion season
    In addition to posting a traffic jam forecast guide on NEXCO EAST 's customer website `` DraPla'', traffic jam forecasters also provide video explanations of key points for avoiding traffic jams.
    Please check the traffic congestion forecast and avoid using the service on busy days and times.

Special site for traffic congestion period

Image of congestion prediction on Expressway in the Tohoku region during the year-end and New Year holidays 2023-2024
Image of the 2023-2024 year-end and New Year traffic forecast guide by NEXCO EAST official traffic forecaster

Expressway information such as traffic congestion

  • Drive Traffic (DraTra)
    You can check road traffic information such as real-time congestion information, road closure information, and regulation information.
  • Road Traffic Information Now! !
    * (Public interest incorporated foundation) Japan Road Traffic Information Center HP
  • Expressway information distribution via LINE
    (See Attachment 4 [PDF: 303KB])
    The official LINE account "NEXCO EAST" provides Expressway information. To register as a friend, please read the two-dimensional code below or enter @e_nexco in the ID search.
    Two-dimensional code image for friend registration of LINE official account NEXCO EAST (external link)
  • NEXCO東日本お客さまセンター
    0570-024-024 または 03-5308-2424
    ※24時間365日オペレーターが対応します。
  • (公財)日本道路交通情報センター
    050-3369-6666(全国共通ダイヤル)

The official X (formerly Twitter) account "NEXCO EAST (Tohoku)" (@e_nexco_tohoku) also distributes useful information for driving.

  • Traffic conditions may change significantly due to accidents or weather conditions, so please check the latest road traffic information on "DraTra" before departure.

The NEXCO EAST Group has positioned the period from 2021 to 2025 as "a period to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and transform toward a new future society", and is carrying out various initiatives.
We believe that our efforts to predict traffic congestion on Expressway during the year-end and New Year period will contribute to SDGs goals 3 and 9 as business activities that lead to the provision of safe road spaces by alleviating traffic congestion.

Image of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS logo and SDGs target 3rd and 9th logos
Image link (external link) to download page of Adobe Acrobat Reader

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