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4.The Shape of the Society That ITS Will Build (The Effects of ITS)
<1> If Japan devotes its fullest efforts to the Smartway project, the entire society of Japan will enjoy a long list of benefits. Those advantages will ultimately spread out from Japan to benefit the entire world. As the discussion below will demonstrate, Smartway and ITS will improve the road traffic environment in numerous ways, securing road traffic safety, alleviating traffic congestion and lightening the burden of vehicular transportation on the natural environment. The advantages of ITS extend far beyond these, however, to encompass the creation of new value in the form of new markets and industries, yielding numerous benefits to Japanese society. These results will accrue not only to the direct users of the system, but will extend to all aspects of society, including lifestyles, the economy and regional communities. The significance of the ITS project is momentous.
<2> As technological advances unfold, future users will conceive of their own uses and applications for Smartway, including variations beyond the imagination of our own generation. As ITS evolves, it will be important to evaluate continuously the shape of society that emerges in tandem with progress in related technologies, and to publish those findings widely among the citizens of Japan.
(1) Improving the Road Traffic Environment
1) ITS : Effective in Dramatically Reducing Traffic Congestion
The alleviation of traffic congestion on Japan's roads is an urgent problem of the highest importance. Building more bypasses and ring roads is not enough. The existing road network must be put to work in more efficient ways.

[Supporting Smoother Traffic]
<1> Traffic congestion on expressways account for 7% of the nation's total congestion losses. It is estimated that introducing a non-stop automatic toll collection system (Electronic Toll Collection, or ETC) could eliminate some 50 million hours and \150 billion in losses from congestion in 2015. Also, advanced cruise-assist highway system at tunnels and sags (transition zones between descending and ascending hills) can prevent loss of speed and consequent traffic congestion at these present bottlenecks, creating a comfortable and smoothly flowing driving environment. (Test calculations indicate that the traffic tie-ups that stretch to about 15km at sags could be eliminated by implementing 40% of the planned advanced cruise-assist highway system.)
<2> In urban sections of the network, ITS can provide accurate and appropriate information on traffic congestion and other travel-related matters. Together with the establishment of a more sophisticated road network, this information enables drivers to select the optimum route every time, ensuring the most effective use of limited road resources. By implementing VICS in just 20% of Tokyo's highway network, congestion on the capital's expressways could be relieved by 10%. Similarly, if VICS were installed in 30% of Japan's road base, total losses from all traffic congestion would decline 6%.
<3> We estimate that, by 2015 the annual effect of ITS in alleviating traffic congestion would reach approximately \1.2 trillion.

[Supporting the Use of Public Transit]
ITS can provide a variety of integrated pre-trip and on-trip information, delivered in real time. This information will keep drivers abreast of the availability of parking spaces, how public transit is running at a given moment and how crowded the roads are. This technology will also be valuable in promoting the use of park-and-ride system at the outskirts of towns. In all of these ways, ITS will encourage the use of public transit, further alleviating congestion on urban road.

[Supporting Traffic Demand Management]
Although driver receptivity remains to be verified, public tests demonstrate that techniques such as traffic demand management (TDM), which use ETC technology to encourage road use in off-peak hours, would be valuable in supporting the smooth introduction of measures to alleviate traffic congestion through the efficient use of road facilities.

[Reducing Congestion caused by Accidents and Supporting Fast Accident Response]
The introduction of advanced cruise-assist highway system can reduce both traffic accidents and traffic congestion caused by accidents. At the same time, when accidents do occur these systems can transmit information quickly to the appropriate authorities, enabling fast and effective response. This development will dramatically reduce congestion caused by traffic accidents on expressways, which account for roughly 15% of traffic congestion on these routes.
2) ITS : Effective in Dramatically Reducing Traffic Accidents

[The Effects of Direct Deterrence of Accidents]
<1> According to recent research, approximately 80% of all traffic accidents are caused by late detection of problems by drivers, errors of judgement and incorrect operation. This data clearly indicates that the majority of accidents could be avoided if drivers could be reliably warned of dangers as they arise.
<2> Advanced cruise-assist highway system is currently being developed. The goal for this system is to reduce accidents caused by ordinary drivers who are careful about safety by one third in zones where they are installed. (Some tests show that, if these systems were installed in those zones of trunk roads where accidents are concentrated, traffic accidents could be decreased 15%, avoiding the death or injury of about 130,000 people and saving some \550 billion annually.)

[Rapid Response Support after Accidents]
Besides being effective in directly deterring accidents, injuries and fatalities can also be reduced by ensuring rapid response when accidents do occur. ITS technology can be applied to transmit information on accidents and disasters reliably and quickly, to enhance the response of emergency and ambulance dispatch systems, thereby increasing the safety factor after accidents and when disasters occur. For example, using communication terminals linked to a car navigation global positioning satellite (GPS), ITS could automatically notify the appropriate authorities of the occurrence of accidents, slashing ambulance response time, and dramatically improve success rates in saving injured people's lives.
3) Creating Harmony between Traffic Systems and the Environment

[Lightening the Environmental Burden on the Earth]
<1> ITS will be a valuable tool in creating an environmentally friendly traffic system. In addition to the developing and spreading the use of environmentally friendly smart cars, people can be encouraged to switch from driving to taking public transit through the comprehensive provision of information on parking facilities and park-and-ride support. Gains in logistical efficiency will also reduce the number of cars on the road at a given time. These accomplishments can be expected to reduce CO2 emissions significantly.
<2> Furthermore, the development of advanced cruise-assist highway system technology will enable platoon driving (driving cars in groups). Platoon driving is forecast to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 - 15%, further lightening the environmental burden of vehicular transport.
<3> Because 11% of CO2 emissions by automobiles are the result of traffic congestion, relieving this congestion through the introduction of ITS will improve speeds on all roads, reducing CO2 exhaust volumes.
<4> We estimate that, by 2010, these efforts will result in at least a 1.5% reduction in vehicular CO2 emissions, eliminating 1.1 million metric tonnes of CO2 exhaust.

[Improving Roadside Environments]
ITS technology must not only alleviate traffic congestion but also guide, regulate and detour vehicles which generate a great deal of noise. This service is vital to improve the environment of roadside communities.
(2) Supporting a Vigorous Economy

[Contributing to the Creation of Markets and Employment]
We believe that ITS and related fields will grow into one of the leading industries of the 21st century. The market for ITS information and communications products is forecast to reach a cumulative \60 trillion for the years 2000 - 2015. When concomitant effects in all industries are included in the equation, this figure rises to approximately \100 trillion. In employment terms, this industry will be a significant contributor to the national employment picture, employing 1.07 million people in 2015. (Source: Report by the Telecommunications Technology Council, February 22, 1999)

[The Effects on Regional Economies]
By introducing dedicated ETC interchanges (tentatively named smart interchanges), the stimulatory effect on the economy can be expected to reach far beyond the immediate area of the interchanges. In urban areas, new traffic systems using ITS will revitalize the areas around train stations, invigorating regional economies through urban redevelopment.

[Making Logistics More Efficient]
By alleviating traffic congestion, ITS can shorten the time required for the movement of goods by road, dramatically improving the efficiency of shipping operations by supporting the management of commercial shipping fleets. This development will significantly reduce domestic logistical costs, contributing to expanded competitiveness in Japanese companies and lowering the cost of living. In 2015, the alleviation of traffic congestion achieved by ITS will yield a 15% reduction in logistical costs caused by traffic congestion. Moreover, systems to support the management of commercial transport fleets should pare logistical costs by a further 4%. These benefits are expected to translate into a 0.14% reduction in the cost of goods to consumers. Similarly, when advances in Advanced cruise-assist highway system technology make platoon driving feasible, shipping costs can be dropped still further.
(3) Responding to the Multiplicity of Needs of Modern Life and Regional Communities
1) Improving the Quality of Life through Value-Added Services
Regardless of the style of life they lead, Japan's citizens want to see an improvement in the quality of their lives. ITS will make a wide range of options available to serve these needs, adding flexibility and quality to modern life.

[Supporting Freedom of Movement in an Aging Society]
In today's aging society, the social demand is growing for measures to ensure the mobility of the aged. This is a particularly pressing issue in areas where the automobile is the only practical form of transportation. Since driving skills are said to deteriorate with age, the use of AHS to provide information and support driving operations is an extremely valuable service for older drivers.

[Supporting Comfortable Urban Life]
ITS can be used to inform passengers about bus routes and arrival times and to ensure punctuality, make public transport easier to use by raising its effective capacity, and introduce systems to inform drivers about the availability of parking spaces and take reservations. All of these innovations will contribute to the smooth flow of urban traffic. In the future, new traffic systems will be introduced, such as electrical cars used in common by the public, increasing individuals' mobility. These developments promise an urban transport environment suited to the demands of the 21st century.

[Securing a Comfortable Walking Environment]
No matter how people get around, at some point all able-bodied people walk. The creation of a safe and dependable walking environment is indispensable for the formation of a society in which all members can participate with peace of mind. Moreover, as people's needs grow more complex and sophisticated, citizens demand more comfort in their walking environment. The services provided by ITS will include the provision of information not only for vehicles and their drivers but for pedestrians as well. Route guidance systems will inform people of the optimal route to their destination, including public transit, creating a walking environment that is convenient and reassuring for everyone, including unguided travellers.

[Other New Improvements in the Quality of Daily Life]
The explosive growth in mobile telephones shows how quickly the need is growing for information on the go. The nation's roads have so far been left behind in the communications revolution. Although many of these developments depend on the state of progress in the private sector, ITS itself will deliver a seamless information and communications environment that enables the reception and transmission of a wide variety of information. Drivers and passengers on the move will be able to pick up information on products, leisure activities, food services and many other items of interest in daily life, enriching their driving experience and quality of life.
2) Invigorating Regional Communities through Responsive Deployment of ITS
ITS will enable the formation of vigorous and exciting regional communities that can leverage the unique qualities of their particular regions.

[Examples of Regional Applications]
<1> The provision of public transit is a key part of the formation of regional communities. Even in areas where public transit is difficult to establish, however, the transportation needs of those whose mobility is poor must be attended to. Using ITS's vehicle operation management technology, demand buses can be provided which alter their operations according to the varying needs of residents. ITS can also be used to form a regional information network focused on information terminals in service areas, parking areas and road stations. This service will stimulate traffic within and between regions, promote tourism and local industries, and foster the development of education and culture.
<2> The area around the rail station is the focus of many Japanese towns. Organizing the automobile traffic around these areas and using the public space more effectively are urgent issues in many such locations. ITS technology can be used to provide on-demand taxi services, so that town and city centers can be revitalized and recreated with more effective use of land reserved for public transit.

[Effective Land Use through Smart Interchanges]
Because of their potential for revitalizing Japan's regional communities, the demand for new interchange facilities is high. Dedicated ETC interchanges (tentatively dubbed smart interchanges) are more compact than conventional interchanges, absorbing only one-third of the land area and half of the expense. These features not only enable the land surrounding the interchange to be used more efficiently, but also strengthen connections with regional communities, contributing to the development of the wider region. The installation of dedicated ETC gates in service areas and parking areas enables these facilities to be turned into powerful logistical bases, able to play a significant role in the revitalization of the region.
3) Making Japan a Safer Place to Live
<1> To bring greater safety and peace of mind to Japan's quality of life, the nation's road traffic must provide a high degree of safety and reliability. ITS can be used to gather information on local conditions such as status of disasters, presence of vehicles in areas prone to accidents, rainfall, and snow and ice buildup. Appropriate steps can then be taken to provide emergency disaster or accident response, clear snow and ice, or block off dangerous roads. Moreover, relelvant information, such as availability of detours and alternate routes, can also be provided smoothly and quickly. These measures will improve road safety and lighten the damage from natural disasters.
<2> Moreover, if ITS is used to gather information from the cars themselves, local information on accidents, disasters and the like can be collected and disseminated, quickly providing regions with a finely tuned disaster prevention system.
<3> ITS technology will also make tasks such as inspection, data collection and evaluation of road conditions easy, improve the environment in neighboring areas, augment the safety and comfort of users, and enable efficient and systematic road maintenance.
4) ITS : Influencing for Life and Society in the 21st Century

[Effective Utilization of The Nation's Land Area]
The effects of ITS can be expected to extend far beyond solutions to Japan's road traffic problems and the provision for new values using road traffic as a medium. For example, IT could be installed in other valuable features of society such as rivers and residential areas, and can be integrated into the larger network. This would dramatically improve access to information about the region and heighten the development potential of the region. As a result, the national infrastructure could be reorganized in ways inconceivable in conventional rural and urban infrastructure, contributing powerfully to the effective utilization of the nation's land area.

[Response to Large-scale Disasters]
When large-scale disasters occur, ITS will underpin wide-area support systems for the rapid gathering and distribution of information, contributing critically to the management of the nation's precious land resources.

[Supporting Advanced Life stile]
ITS is also valuable in terms of medical and welfare services. Its technology and infrastructure can be used to mediate the exchange of information among patrol vehicles, medical and welfare facilities, patients and the injured, making sophisticated yet low-cost medical services available. Moreover, by responding to the increasing use of IT in public resources, ITS can be expected to stimulate development of a wide range of new products and services by the private sector. These may include such innovations as hands-on educational systems using video from remote areas and advanced systems for domestic medical care. Life for Japan's citizens will become more convenient, more comfortable and more enjoyable in the 21st century.

[Supporting Advanced Information and Telecommunication Society]
The Smartway platform and Geographic Information System (GIS) will complement each other in many important ways. The benefits each platform brings the other will not only improve other, conventional modes of transportation, but will also make a wide range of exciting new services possible and contribute immensely to advancing the quality of Japan's IT infrastructure.


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