Assistance for safe driving
Increasing efficiency in road management

Information provision during unusual weather

Since unusual events such as heavy rains could cause unpredictable mud slides and road failures, traffic closures are issued to roads designated as special sections subject to advance traffic restriction, before the occurrence of disasters. The administrators of such sections are required to collect various information based on which a decision on traffic closure is made.

The Kagoshima National Highway Work Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been providing various information on the highways it manages, including rainfall and traffic restriction information via its web site, mobile phones with Internet access, and information terminals at the "Michi-no-Eki (roadside rest area)," in order to allow road users to make proper decisions such as changing routes and discontinuing their trips to make driving safer.

During the test period of these services, from June 20 to October 31, 2001, accesses to the traffic restriction information numbered about 5,500 to the web site, and about 2,700 from mobile phones. On August 17, when Kagoshima was hit by torrential rain, there were 595 accesses to the web site, and 171 from mobile phones. Questionnaire and hearing surveys also reveal strong demand for advance road and weather information during unusual weather events.

A study is now underway at the Kagoshima National Highway Work Office, to make the system for these services easier to use. The Office is also collecting data to evaluate the effectiveness of these information services.

[Kagoshima National Highway Work Office of the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]