Section2 Advanced Road Traffic Services

Japan's ETC uses the 5.8 GHz-band two-way active dedicated short range communication system that has been adopted as an international standard, and can easily identify the route of each vehicle. Therefore, various toll systems can be implemented to satisfy the needs of individual users. Like Environmental Road Pricing (see the next page), which started in October 2001, various toll collection methods can be implemented according to the objectives. ETC will enable various convenient services to be provided and existing highways to be effectively utilized.

For example, discounts for vehicles that continuously pass through plural toll gates will encourage vehicles to detour around congested sections, reduce traveling time, and increase the efficiency of highway utilization. Peak road pricing can control fluctuations in traffic demand by time and outbound and inbound lines, and mitigate traffic congestion by encouraging efficient use of existing city expressways. Other toll collection methods, such as discounts for special sections of the expressways where a flat rate has been adopted, may be implemented.