CHAPTER 3. TRANSPORTATION SERVICE IN THE FUTURE

1. Basic policy of transportation service

(1) Well-balanced use of public transportation and private motor vehicles
　 　 Motor vehicles have their own features and advantages, such as mobility, availability at any time, and privacy, which are not available in other means of transportation. Private vehicles make up a considerable share of transportation both for passenger and cargo due to user preference. In particular, private passenger cars are playing a very important role in people's daily lives.
　 　 On the other hand, along with the increase of the volume of motor vehicle traffic, problems such as traffic congestion, increasing traffic accidents, and impacts on the environment and energy supply has become more serious. And, in the truck transportation sector, chronic labor shortages continue even in the midst of the recent economic downturn. Taking account of such restrictions as space, environment, energy and labor, it will be considered hereafter to be more important to attain balance between public transportation and private passenger cars for passenger transportation, and to assess the excessive reliance on truck transport for cargo transportation [Fig. 32].
　 　 Under the circumstances, use of railway transportation is increasing not only in large cities such as Tokyo, but also in regional core cities such as Sendai and Takamatsu [Fig. 33].
　 　 A similar trend is also seen in the U.S., where the motorization is much more developed. In Los Angeles, for example, even though roads more than 10 lanes wide are available on many routes, road traffic congestion during morning and evening rush hours persists, leading to the decision to construct railways. In Europe, many cities are endeavoring to harmonize development of auto transport with other means of transportation through extensive implementation of policies to accelerate the use of railways or other public transportation [Fig.34, Table 1].
　 　 Those who use motor vehicles to commute or travel must exercise judgement in their use of motor vehicles, for example: using private passenger cars to reach connections to railway or bus routes, or, contrariwise, reaching target points by train or bus and then using rental cars, to move around in the target area. Kobe City, Fukuoka City and Sapporo City provide public parking space near railway stations and have introduced the "park and ride" system, in which passengers leave passenger cars at the parking space and then change to public transportation such as subway or bus.
(2) Responding to users' general requirements
　 　 Choice of transportation measures should be fundamentally left to users' preference, and people's choices vary to a great extent depending on their area of residence or on the person's occupation. In areas where demand for transportation overall is low, maintaining operation of public transportation system such as railways or buses is difficult, and private passenger cars should play an important role in meeting people's daily transportation needs.
　 　 To the extent that the increase in the use of private passenger cars is attributed to user demand, it will not be adequate to apply enforcement of compulsory control to restrain the increase without regard for user's needs. Consequently, it is necessary to increase the attractiveness of public transportation for passengers responding to users' needs so as to induce passengers to shift from private passenger cars to public transportation system.
　 　 In cargo transportation as well, it is not practical to implement compulsory controls to shift from trucks to railways or coastwise shipping without regard for the needs of users. Thus, it is important to provide incentives for users to use railway or coastwise shipping.
　 　 The prerequisite to induce use of public transportation system is to provide a certain level of service and to fulfil the required level of service. It is important to accomplish this goal. Therefore, it is necessary to respond to the preferences of users for improved convenience, high speed and comfort, taking into account of increased personal income, the higher value placed on time and the increase in people's free time, etc.
(3)Response to social needs
　 　 Improvement of public transportation is important from the point of view of attaining its development as a counterbalance to the use of private cars, and various sorts of measures are required in public transportation to respond to social needs. For example, implementation of measures to mitigate congestion on commuter trains is necessary in large cities. On the other hand, in less populated areas, assured availability of transportation for elderly or physically handicapped persons is required. Also, along with the increase population of aged and handicapped persons, provision of relevant transportation services that are easy for these people to use is much more.
　 　 Furthermore, looking toward the next century, it is necessary to attain accelerated inter-regional movement through provision of a nationwide high-speed transportation network, the goal being the formation of a more geographically decentralized country that is a national theme.
　 　 Since such measures do not necessarily contribute to increases in the volume of passenger transportation directly, and in some cases the burden to transport companies is too heavy compared to the demand. Therefore, in order to realize them it is necessary to provide various sorts of supporting measures, taking account of many different factors [Fig. 35].
　 　 Public transportation in the related area contributes to maintenance and improvement of city facilities, to creation of comfortable living circumstances, and to stimulation of regional economies. It is necessary to respond to local interests correctly in maintaining and improving transport systems such as public transportation. At the same time, it is necessary for local communities to offer creative ideas and to apply various measures at the right time in the right way with respect to local concerns.

2. Development of attractive public transportation and improvement of transportation service

　 　 The volume of passenger and freight traffic will continue to increase along with the development of the economy in the future. For passenger transportation, relaxing and comfortable service must be provided. For cargo transportation, thorough service with well managed control of time, quality and temperature is required.
　 　 Therefore, it will become necessary to make public transportation more attractive, so that it may carry an increased volume adequately, and to upgrade transportation services to meet actual needs.
(1) Improvement of subways and other railway systems in large cities
(a) Changes of construction of subways and other railway systems
　 　 In response to demand for transportation in large cities where population and business are highly concentrated, it will be necessary to continue to make effort to construct a railway network, particularly railway network as main transportation measures. Also, better railway service facilities need to be developed in order to meet the need for mass passenger transit between suburban residential areas and business centers.
　 　 Subways are provided in 9 cities in Japan, including Tokyo, Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Fukuoka, with the total operating distances as of Aug. 1993 being 543.1 km. Construction of subway extensions is progressing in some cities, and other projects are also progressing [Fig. 36].
　 　 Construction of monorails and light weight automated guided transit are developing in sections where subways or other city railways are considered overloaded.
　 　 In addition, it will be essential to attain effective use of existing street trams, JR lines and local railway lines in regional core cities.
(b) Provision of strengthened incentives for development of railways provided by the central government and local governing bodies
　 　 Construction of new lines or other facilities to expand transportation capacity in large cities is far behind that required to provide sufficient capacity to keep abreast of demand because of various obstructions such as difficulties in acquiring land, and increased land prices which necessitate considerable finance and lengthen the period needed to recover the investment. Needless to say, institutions or companies operating railway transportation are required to upgrade their service in the future, and it is necessary to examine the possibility of requiring recipients of railway convenience such as users to extend more cooperation and to bear their share of the burden.
　 　 In order to cultivate investment willingness on the part of the companies and steady promotion in railway construction while, in principle having users bear the cost burden, it is also necessary to examine to complete the system of cooperation and support such as strengthening incentives to spur investment by the central government and the local governments by making effective use of various sorts of subsidiary systems of the Railway Development Fund (the subway High Speed Railway Construction Funding Assistance System, the Private Railway Construction Assistance System, the New Town Railway Construction Assistance System, etc.) and of the Railway Construction in Designated Cities Funds System.
　 　 In local core cities, construction and intra-city railways such as subways continues to be insufficient, which is attributed to rises in construction costs and long periods of low demand. However, these subways are regarded as necessary to avoid further intensification of problems caused by increases in motor vehicle transportation and to assure mobility of local residents, thereby stimulating the activity of local cities and development of local areas. Therefore, it is necessary to study the situation at the earliest possible time to find ways for the central government and local governing bodies to extend cooperation and support for construction and operation of public transportation.
(2) Stimulation of bus and taxi services
　 　 Even though the number of bus passengers has been decreasing since the peak of FY1970, buses still play an important role as a convenient means of transportation. The average number of passengers per day in FY1992 was 23 million. Buses are an important means of transportation in suburban areas close to railroad stations or other local areas.
　 　 In urban areas, punctual operation of buses is becoming difficult. Therefore, it is desirable to make bus operation more punctual and more attractive as a means of public transportation through realization of better operating conditions for buses. To meet these needs, various measures are being developed, including the introduction of bus-location systems which provide facilities to inform passengers waiting at bus stops of the locations of buses to avoid unnecessary irritation, and introduction of new city bus service systems combining this location system with operation of low-floor, wide-door types of buses and bus shelters, to be provided on routes with bus lanes for exclusive or priority use for buses.
　 　 In addition, the District Transport Bureaus, the Prefectural and Metropolitan Police Headquarters, local public organizations and management bodies of bus operation, are endeavoring to cooperate to provide lanes for exclusive or priority use by buses, to install priority signals for buses and to tow away illegally parked vehicles, aiming to improve circumstances for bus operation.
　 　 As already mentioned, while mass public transportation plays an important role in city transport, taxis provide public transport for unspecified recipients at any time on demand and have much better efficiency in the use of road space. Also, their existence is highly justified in areas where demand for transportation is low and availability of public transportation is limited.
　 　 With the diversification of the needs of users, new types of transportation services are being developed, such as late-night omni-taxis with 9-passenger capacity in cities, omni-taxi services connecting suburban railway stations to housing development areas, and station wagon taxis which offer large luggage capacity [Table 2].
　 　 The Ministry of Transport is planning to implement policies to provide a diversified transportation fare system and to attain flexible adjustment of the balance between demand and supply so as to diversify transportation services in response to the report submitted by the Council for Transport Policy in May, 1993.
(3) Development of inter-region, high-speed transportation
　 　 Development of inter-region high-speed transportation by expressway network has contributed to an expansion of living space, enlargement of possibility of people's activity and also to restraining urbanization around Tokyo and to greater decentralization throughout the country. Even though use of motor vehicles in long-distance transportation has shown a remarkable increase, public transportation, such as railways and air transportation, play an important role in this sector and should be made to provide greater safety, comfort and speed.
　 　 In particular, railway transportation has come to be reevaluated in the world because if its advantages with respect to mitigation of road congestion and problems related to environment, energy and safety. Inter-region railway construction projects are also being developed [Table 3].
(a) Enhancement of railway network
　 　 (Development of Shinkansen)
　 　 For the purpose of augmenting the transport capacity of the Tokaido Shinkansen, construction of additional transformer substations is progressing. In addition, a project to construct a new Shinagawa Station is currently at the stage of coordination between the institutions that will be involved in the project. At present, construction of three new Shinkansen lines in five districts is progressing according to the basic schedule for priority for starting construction and matters concerning finance, etc.
　 　 (Through operation between the Shinkansen and JR's narrow-gauge lines)
　 　 Through operation is a measure to extend the advantages of the Shinkansen to preexisting lines and to attain high-speed service on trunk lines. In July 1992, a new train, the "Tsubasa," started service between Fukushima and Yamagata, connected to the Shinkansen line by through operation. Construction to develop an identical project between Morioka and Akita is progressing, it will help to shorten travel time from 4 hrs. and 30 min. to about 4 hrs. after completion.
　 　 (Speed-up of narrow-gauge line)
　 　 The standard speed set for most narrow-gauge JR lines is 50 to 60 km/h, and projects to reach higher speeds, such as improvement of rail, reinforcement of track and development of new-type trains, are underway.
　 　 (Technology development)
　 　 For the Shinkansen, development of the next generation of trains to run at speeds exceeding 300 km/h is underway. Test runs of the new train began in FY1992.
　 　 For a superconducting, electromagnetically levitated train, technology development has been progressing toward the goal of normal operation at an operating maximum speed of 500 km/h. Construction of a new experimental line started in FY1990.
(b) Improvement of the air transportation network
　 　 Air transportation has the advantage of being the fastest means of transportation, and it plays a most important role in traversing sea or mountains. It dominates in transportation over 1,000km or longer distances. In recent years, inter-regional transportation is becoming more active, and as new local airports are developed, the share of air transportation in inter-region transport is rising.
　 　 (Improvement of aviation network based on two metropolitan areas)
　 　 The domestic aviation network is based around the Tokyo International Airport and the Osaka International Airport, both whose service volume is close to capacity [Fig. 37]. Hence, projects to provide additional capacity are underway, including offshore extension of facilities at the Tokyo International Airport and construction of Kansai International Airport, which is expected to open in September 1994.
　 　 Also, the New Tokyo International Airport plans to complete construction of two remaining runways after acquiring the consent of the local community. Thus, the capacity will be augmented not only for international lines but also for connecting domestic lines. A feasibility study for construction of a new airport in the Tokyo metropolitan area is also being conducted.
　 　 (Development of aviation network based on local hub airports)
　 　 In recent years local cities have become increasingly interconnected, and the roles of central local cities have accordingly become more important. Therefore, efforts have been exerted to develop the aviation network connecting local hub airports in central cities and connecting such hub airports to other local airports directly. In response to this development, improvement and extension of airport terminals is progressing in local hub airports, and construction and enlargement of facilities to handle jets is progressing in other local airports.
(c) Improvement of high-speed maritime transportation and high-speed bus service network
　 　 In the maritime transportation sector, transport speeds are rising as reflected in the introduction of jetfoils in the area of super-high-speed service, for which there are currently 8 routes with 12 vessels in commercial operation. It is necessary to improve harbor facilities in order to respond to development of high-speed maritime transportation.
　 　 Demand for high-speed bus service is also rising. High-speed bus service takes longer and has a smaller capacity than the Shinkansen or air transport, but it has the advantages of lower fares, comfort, late-night service, etc., thus, it's use is increasing.
(4) Upgrade convenience and comfort
(a) Improving access
　 　 To meet the need to shorten door-to-door travel time, it is necessary to provide improved access to airports, Shinkansen or other high-speed transportation facilities, in addition to speeding up the main transports services.
　 　 It is necessary to implement both hard and soft measures as appropriate, such as providing access, shortening time and improving ease of movement in airports or high-speed railway terminal, providing efficient operation schedules, and improving information services.
　 　 It is particularly necessary for airports to provide access to railway transportation, which offers reliably punctual operation and high-speed service, in order to take full advantage of aviation service, since airports are usually located at considerable distances from urban areas.
(b) Improving ease of transfers
　 　 For local transportation, measures are being taken to make movement in terminals easier and quicker by installing escalators, adjusting operation schedules to facilitate connections, providing through operation connecting different railway lines, introducing through-tickets, and providing systems to inform passengers about connections.
(c) Introduction of "card system"
　 　 Card systems such as "stored fare card" (a system which deducts the fare automatically at the ticket gate) contribute to smooth use of railways or bus services, and the Ministry of Transport is supporting enterprises which are introducing the system Currently card systems are in wide use, particularly in large cities. In the latest case, in June 1992 a "stored fare card" system was introduced that covers three transportation companies including the subway and bus systems of Yokohama city, the bus system of Kawasaki city and Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Co., Ltd. [Table 4]
　 　 An important future goal will be the introduction of a common system among different sectors and multiple institutions so as to make transfers between systems operated by different institutions easier.
　 　 In developing a common card system there are certain subjects to be dealt with, such as standardization of system equipment, provision of security measures, and prompt response to trouble and accidents. But, it is necessary to deal with such subjects and to extend the common system for the convenience of passengers.
(d) Improvement of comfort on trains and buses
　 　 Installation of air conditioning on trains in large cities is steadily growing and highly appreciated by users [Fig. 38].
　 　 In recent years, installation of sophisticated air conditioning systems that provide gentle cooling is progressing, and installation of air conditioning systems on subway trains is also underway positively. As increasing numbers of users demand better service regardless of cost, JR and other private railway companies are by operating express commuter trains with seating for all passengers in paying additional fares, and limited express/express trains for pass holders coping with long distance commuters [Fig. 39]. They are also responding to the crowded condition of regular trains.
　 　 One of the advantages of railways is that passengers can use their time on the train productively, as compared to travel in private passenger cars, which requires one to concentrate on driving [Fig. 40].
　 　 Efforts are being made to improve comfort on trains, such as installation of LCD TVs (TVs With liquid crystal display) or audio equipment, development of cars with double decks, private compartments or observation cars, and the introduction of deluxe sleeping cars like "Hokutosei" or "Twilight Express".
　 　 For buses, improvements are underway that include installation of air conditioning systems, introduction of low-floor, wide-door and wide windows models, and extended seat pitch.
　 　 As for improvement of bus and train terminal facilities, such measures as installing escalators, expanding air conditioning systems, and developing better information facilities are being taken. In addition to these improvements, galleries, meeting rooms, convenience stores, dispatch offices of local governments, and various booking and information services have been provided in recent years. It is expected that such terminals will take on a greater role as information centers in people's lives in the future.
(5) Efficient operation of cargo transportation
(a) Promotion of modal shift
　 　 Attainment of modal shift such as shifts from trucks to railways or coastwise shipping is becoming an important target in the effort to promote efficient operation of inter-region transportation.
　 　 In response, measures aiming to augument transport capacity are being taken under a subsidy system provided by the Railway Development Fund for the railway sector to develop railway facilities to operate long container trains, and under a joint ownership construction system provided by the Maritime Credit Cooperation for the maritime transport sector to construct ferry boats, RORO (roll-on roll-off) vessels and container ships [Fig. 41].
　 　 It is necessary to further improve service by speeding it up, improving cargo handling systems and adjusting service times. Intermodal transportation facilities connecting ports, railway terminals and container yards must be improved for efficient operation of truck transportation, and access roads connecting to these facilities must also be improved.
　 　 In addition to the above, it is necessary to research and develop a new type of high-speed vessel (Techno Superliner), study corresponding transportation systems, and improve harbor capacity.
　 　 For main trucking routes which are unable to be shifted to railroad or shipping, it is necessary to enable efficient transportation through utilization of information networks providing data on the condition of cars and cargo.
(b) Promotion of consolidated cargo transportation
　 　 Local transportation largely relies on truck transport, and taking account of commercial trucks' ability to carry consolidated cargo for multiple consignees and their consequently higher transport efficiency than private trucks, it is deemed to be important to shift use of private trucks to commercial trucks.
　 　 Also, it is very effective to form cooperative collection and delivery systems in commercial areas or where cargo volume is high, such as wholesale districts or shopping areas. Such systems have already been introduced on an experimental basis in Tenjin and other areas in Fukuoka city.
　 　 The deregulation of standards of permissible maximum loads on trucks is an important subject to address for improvement of transport efficiency.
　 　 It is also necessary for urban truck transportation to establish information systems on cars and cargo to accelerate the utilization of consolidated transportation.
　 　 For "just-in-time service" (service of pick up and delivery at predetermined times), overuse of this service may cause inefficiency in transportation, and this system should be reconsidered. Also, it is necessary to establish an adequate rate system reflecting the cost of transportation services, allowing higher rate in labor-intensive sectors.

3. Upgrading service to respond to social needs

　 　 Since commercial transportation companies are limited in their ability to respond to the need to mitigate rush-hour congestion and to assure safe and smooth mobility for aged or handicapped persons, it is necessary for the central government or local governments to provide measures to meet these needs and at the same time to provide public transportation with the consent and cooperation of the communities served.
(1) Mitigating rush-hour congestion in large cities
　 　 Even though augmentation of railway capacity in large cities has been proceeding steadily, rush-hour congestion on trains is still serious. Particularly in the Tokyo commuting area, the rate of congestion at rush hour exceeds 200% (passengers' bodies are pressed together) in many sections, and even exceeding 250% (passengers lean every time the car rolls, and passengers are unable to move their bodies or even hands) in some sections. Taking account of such conditions, measures are planned to mitigate the average rate of congestion as a whole to 150% (passengers' shoulders may touch, but it is possible to read a newspaper) in many sections and 180% in the Tokyo commuting area within about 10 years. This will be carried out through two measures to augment transportation capacity and promote staggered commuting.
(a) Augmentation of transportation capacity
　 　 It is necessary not only to continue implementation of current policies to lengthen trains and to increase the number of trains in operation but also to continue expanding the number of lines and constructing Shinkansen lines as more fundamental measure. Attainment of comfortable commuting conditions through higher speed of operation, which shortens travel time, is also receiving greater attention.
　 　 As previously described, in the developing multiple lines, ways are being urgently sought to overcome difficulties in acquiring land or other areas.
(b) Promotion of staggered commuting
　 　 Commuting traffic is concentrated in a narrow time period in the day, causing extreme congestion, especially during the morning rush-hour. Therefore, if transportation demand is diffused to earlier or later times, it may mitigate the present congestion to some extent in a much shorter time and at lower cost than construction of relevant facilities, that requires a long time and huge investment. Hence, levelling of demand by spreading commuting times over a longer period is thought to be a wise use of public transportation in large cities.
　 　 In recent years, companies are beginning to adopt flex-time systems to make commute times flexible [Fig. 42].
　 　 The Ministry of Transport has been cooperating with company managements and railways to accelerate adaptation of time-shift commuting through the "Time-Shift Commutation Study Group " which was formed m April 1992 for the purpose of examining possible measures to attain acceleration of time-shift commuting in paying attention the policy of companies.
　 　 In Sept. 1993, the Ministry organized (the first) "Comfortable Commuting Promotion Conference," attended by representatives of employees, employers, and relevant administrative institutions, to undertake activities to realize adoption of time-shift commuting. Also, consideration is given to introduction of a new fare system to accelerate adaptation of time-shift commutation.
(2) Transportation service more comfortable for aged and handicapped persons
　 　 Those who are elderly or physically handicapped have a strong will to work and a strong interest in participating in leisure or social activities, and it is essential to improve and enhance public transportation terminal facilities and cars to assure safe and less physically demanding means of transport for their use.
　 　 As for measures to fulfill such requirements, installation or improvement of escalators or elevators in railroad stations, provision of guiding and warning tiles on platforms for visually handicapped persons, and installation of lifts on buses has been progressing in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry to transport operators based on various guidelines [Table 5]. New guidelines are planned for FY1993 reflecting recent requirements to improve transportation facilities and advances in technology.
　 　 Furthermore, a "project to set a model of transportation for aged or handicapped persons" in Yokohama city and Kanazawa city will be undertaken in 3 years from FY1993 as a test case for preparation of facilities for use by elderly or physically handicapped persons in the future.
　 　 Since such facilities for these people are deemed to contribute to increased convenience and to benefit general users of transportation, the cost of the project has been borne by general users. However, to accelerate the installation of elevator and escalator without imposing additional costs on general users, these facilities are being installed through the use of low-interest financing provided to JR and commercial railway companies by the Japan Development Bank and other financial institutions for such projects.
　 　 In 1993, a new system of low rate interest was created wherein the Japan Development Bank and others provide low-interest financing for specific projects to provide facilities for elderly or physically handicapped persons in the station and the airport passenger terminals.
　 　 Some local governments are also beginning to take steps to accelerate installation of such facilities as escalators and elevators in railway stations as welfare policy for those who need them.
　 　 The Ministry of Transport will continue to give guidance to transportation operators and to promote provision of facilities for elderly or physically handicapped persons under various subsidy systems in the future.
　 　 Apart from the abovementioned provision of facilities, organizations related to railroad, bus, taxi, aviation and passenger vessel operation are applying fare discount systems for physically or mentally handicapped persons.
　 　 In addition to these, it is important to create a social environment which encourages passengers near the elderly or physically handicapped to help them.
(3) Assurance of mobility in daily life for residents in rural areas, particularly in less populated areas
　 　 Local buses and railroads are playing an important role in the daily life of local residents. However, the operating companies are facing extreme difficulties due to a decreasion demand for transportation.
　 　 To assure mobility for local residents under these circumstances, rationalization of operation through integration of local bus service operators and elimination of competing bus routes has been carried out. Subsidies are provided to compensate for the operating losses in lural areas where buses are essential in residents' daily lives. And, if a city, town or village operates substitute bus service for routes on which the former operator discontinued service, subsidies are provided in cooperation with local governments to give necessary support to assure transportation for local residents.
　 　 Furthermore, experimental programs have begun for operation of minibus taxi services running on fixed timetables and routes and using vehicles capable of carrying 10 passengers, and for operation of "home delivery bus" which deliver passengers and cargo to residences.
　 　 For railway operators, various subsidies are provided to cover part of the cost of improving service in cases where modernization of installation or equipment is expected to contribute considerably to improvement of management and service (modernization subsidy).
　 　 Maritime and aviation transport services for solitary islands play an important role for local residents, but operation is an economically critical condition. To support the operation of maritime transportation for solitary islands, subsidies are provided in the case of the routes satisfy specific requirements to make up for the operating losses so that operators can maintain and improve service. The Maritime Credit Corporation is also providing financial support for upgrades to larger and faster vessels. Improvement and development of port and harbor facilities of solitary islands is being given high priority. As for the air route for solitary islands, supporting policy is enforced aiming to maintain and improve the service including reduction of airport fees and subsidy to purchase small-sized aircraft.

4. Measures for environmental protection and safety relating principally to motor vehicles

(1) Mitigation of the environmental impact of transportation
　 　 To restrain emissions of C02 and NOx by transport vehicles, it is desirable for passenger traffic to shift from private passenger cars to public transportation. For freight traffic it is desirable to improve efficiency in cargo transportation systems. Considering that motor vehicles share more than one half of the total volume of transportation for both passengers and cargo and that it has a very serious influence on the environment, the following countermeasures are being taken to restrain emissions of C02 and NOx :
(a) Measures to reduce exhaust gas emission
　 　 Since 1976, relevant regulations have been toughened over 20 times, and as a consequence, Japan has the world's strictest controls on exhaust gas emission.
　 　 Currently, regulations of a 1991-1994 program enforce stricter control over NOx and dark smoke exhaust and provide control over emission of particulate matter [Fig. 43].
(b) Comprehensive countermeasure: "NOx law"
　 　 In June 1992, the "Special Measurement Law for Reducing the Total Amount of NOx emitted by Automobiles in Designated Regions (NOx law)" was implemented, and comprehensive countermeasures were taken to reduce NOx, such as enforcement of controls on diesel trucks and diesel buses in large cities utilizing the existing system of compulsory motor vehicle inspection.
(c) Introduction of low-pollution type of vehicle
　 　 Development and diffusion of low-pollution vehicles is effective in the mitigation of environmental impact, and development and introduction of methanol cars, electric cars, hybrid cars and CNG (compressed natural gas) cars is progressing.
　 　 To accelerate introduction of low-pollution cars, various measures are being taken, such as low-interest financing, by central government or local governments tax preferences and subsidies for the promotion of transport operation. There is a case in the Okunikko area in Tochigi Prefecture: the Prefectural Public Safety Commission regulates the entry of passenger cars for sight-seeing and a local government operates low-pollution buses as an alternative.
(2) Safety measures
　 　 With the development of automobile transportation, the annual number of cases of traffic accidents and fatalities is increasing. Human life should be valued above all else, therefore, it is necessary to implement effective motor vehicle safety measures. In March 1992, the Council for Transport Technology submitted a report on "Target of Extending and Strengthening Safety Standards of Motor Vehicle," which indicated the need for improvement of the shock absorbing capacity of motor vehicle in crashes and introduced alarm systems to ensure the use of seat belts, the necessity to implement measures to strengthen safety standards along these lines was covered in the report.
　 　 Furthermore, measures are being taken to efficiently ensure safety, through such developments as the ASV (Advanced Safe Vehicle), a vehicle which applies advanced technologies and comprehensive traffic accident analysis utilizing the Traffic Accident Comprehensive Analysis Center.
　 　 In June 1992, the council submitted a report on "Future Execution of Inspections and Maintenance Checks of Motorvehicles," indicating a move toward user autonomy in matters of maintenance. For example, simplifying compulsory periodical check and maintenance reqirements, and taking account of the maturation of motor vehicle development. It is necessary to carry out these moves with the active cooperation of relevant parties as early as possible.