ITS logo

(1) Aims of Involvement and Future Directions


Aims of Involvement


  1. We will promote ITS (Note 2) based on the Comprehensive Plan (Note 1), in alliance with the related government bodies.

    [1]We will develop roads ("smartways") equipped with integrated telecommunications systems, sensors, optical fibers, and other means of supporting diverse ITS services.
    [2]We will support the advanced use of information in society.

  2. By the year 2010, we will build a spatial network with the capacity for about 150,000 km of optical fibers to link restricted traffic zones where monitoring is needed with major bridges and other important structures. To support cost reductions in telecommunications, information boxes and so on will be opened to telecommunications providers.



Future Directions and Objectives


  1. We will aim to achieve the following objectives by 2002, promoting research and development on ETC and other infrastructure improvements and advanced cruise assist systems, and providing support for the construction of a common systems base and international standardization activities.

    [1]Nationwide development of ETC
    [2]Practical use of advanced cruise assist systems
    [3]Pioneering the introduction of smartways as a second Tomei and Meishin Expressway, etc.

  2. By the year 2002, we will move ahead with the provision of information boxes and the like, centered around directly administered national highways, and cover about 50% of municipalities nationwide. (about 40% covered by the end of fiscal 1998)



Background

1.Needs for Development of Advanced Information Oriented Society

(1) Rapidly Growing Volume of Telecommunications in Japan
[ Trends in the Volume of Telecommunications]
graph image:Trends in the Volume of Telecommunications
Source: Based on the 1999 White Paper on Telecommunications

(2) Regional Gaps Remaining in Information Situation of Society

[ Volume of Telecommunications Transmissions by Prefecture ]

bar chart: Volume of Telecommunications Transmissions by Prefecture
The national average is taken as 1.0 per capita.

Source: Based on the 1999 White Paper on Telecommunications

(3) Telephone and Telecommunications Fees Higher in Tokyo than New York

[ Differences in Telecommunications Fees Between Tokyo and New York ]
bar chart: Differences in Telecommunications Fees Between Tokyo and New York
Source: Based on the 1999 White Paper on Telecommunications

[ Differences in Dedicated Line Rates Between Tokyo and New York ]
bar chart: Differences in Dedicated Line Rates Between Tokyo and New York
Source: Based on the 1999 White Paper on Telecommunications


2. Reduction in Optical Fiber Installation Costs Through the Use of Information Boxes


Costs of private sector optical fiber installation (estimated)

Single installation: About 100 million yen/km --> Use of information boxes: About 10 million yen/km


[ Image of Information Boxes ]
Image of the information box


3. Effects of ITS (1) ETC (Note 3) and Advanced Cruise Assist System (Note 4) Effective in Eliminating Traffic Congestion and Accidents
[ Proportions of Main Areas of Highway Congestion by Road Structure ]
bar chart: Proportions of Main Areas of Highway Congestion by Road Structure

[ Traffic Fatalities by Cause ]
bar chart: Traffic Fatalities by Cause
Source: Japan Highway Public Corporation


(2) ITS to Increase Market Scale of Information Area by About 60 Trillion Yen (Note 5)


4. High Expectations for ITS
(1) ITS and Smartways to be Leading Projects of Twenty-First Century
Emergency Economic Measures (decided by the Ministers' Meeting on Economic Measures held in November 1998), Economic Council (July 1999 report to the Prime Minister)
(2) ITS is a Strategy to Revitalize the Japanese Economy
Industrial Revitalization Plan (January 1999 Cabinet decision), Economic Strategy Conference (February 1999 report to the Prime Minister)
(3) Realization of Smartways to Solve Road Traffic Problems and Create New Value
Toward the Realization of Smartways (June 1999 proposal by the Smartway Project Advisory Committee)
Notes:
  1. Comprehensive Plan: "The Comprehensive Plan for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Japan," enacted in July 1996 by five government bodies: the National Police Agency, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Construction.
  2. ITS: Intelligent Transport Systems.
  3. ETC: Electronic Toll Collection System, a non-stop drive-through toll collection system. This will eliminate traffic congestion at toll gates, improve convenience, and reduce costs. Expansion is also expected in the market for IC cards and other related items.
  4. Advanced Cruise Assist System: A system to provide drivers with danger warnings and other information and provide driving assistance, through the coordination of roads and vehicles.
  5. Totals for 2000 - 2015 from a report by the Council on Electric Communications Technology.
All Rights Reserved, Copyright © 2004 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism