Section2 Advanced Road Traffic Services

ETC on-board equipment (OBE) have been installed on approximately 440 thousand vehicles (as of the end of August 2002), and over 400 thousand OBE were sold in July 2002 (in the 16 months since the start of sales). VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) have been installed on over 5 million vehicles (as of June 2002), but sold only 130 thousand OBE in the first year and took approximately two years to sell 400 thousand OBE.

ETC OBE are likely to be increasingly used, but only 3% of vehicles at toll gates have ETC. Various discount systems, increased installation of gates for exclusive use of ETC vehicles, and campaigns by private companies are planned in order to increase the use of ETC.

Toll charges are discounted 20% for users of expressways of the Japan Highway Public Corporation, Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, and Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation during the special discount period (November 30, 2001 to June 30, 2004) using ETC cards that were registered during the registration period (November 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002).

Users who have ETC on-board equipment (OBE) on their vehicles, have registered using ETC cards issued by credit card companies, and make prepayment can use expressways of the Japan Highway Public Corporation, Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, and Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation up to the prepaid values.

ETC services will be increased to approximately 900 principal toll gates throughout Japan by the end of fiscal 2002. Furthermore, toll gates for exclusive use of ETC vehicles will be established.

As well as sales campaigns for the OBE, the shops for setting up ETC OBE will be connected on-line for greater convenience of users.