## Application of Intelligent Transport Systems

The nation continued to pursue the implementation of intelligent transport systems (ITS), which incorporate advanced information technology to coordinate people, roads, and vehicles under one integrated system. These systems are designed to enhance road safety and transportation efficiency and comfort, as well as to protect the environment by reducing traffic congestion and otherwise streamlining the flow of traffic. Guided by the principles established in 1996 under the Comprehensive ITS Initiative, the government spearheaded research and development projects, field tests $ ^{*} $ , infrastructure development, and other efforts that involved collaboration with industry and academia.

(1) A key component of ongoing work on ITS has been the Universal Traffic Management Systems (UTMS), whose aim is to ensure traffic safety and comfort through a network of advanced traffic control centers. Using near-infrared beacons $ ^{*} $ , the system envisages the creation of control centers that will be able to establish two-way communications with individual vehicles on the road, thus giving the centers the ability to actively and comprehensively manage traffic flows and volumes. Via this means, the UTMS is aiming to provide advanced traffic information, manage vehicular operations, and give priority passage to public vehicles, as well as to reduce traffic pollution, support safe driving, and ensure pedestrian safety. Based on the UTMS concept, the nation took steps to improve its traffic systems and to install facilities for near-infrared beacons, which are the key infrastructural component of the UTMS.

(2) From May 2007, Smart Way has been actively promoted on the express way in the capital. This has been done with a view to experimenting on public roads to verify the effectiveness of various safety driving support systems such as information provision of obstacles on the way and the status of traffic in front and confluence support by using image and sound from the 5.8GHz zone DSRC.

## 2 -2 Dissemination and reinforcement of traffic safety messages

## - Promoting traffic safety education among elderly people

In order to raise traffic safety awareness with the mutual development of elderly people, establishment of traffic safety panels in senior citizen clubs, senior citizen homes, etc., trainings by traffic safety instructors for the elderly (Silver leader) are promoted. Senior citizen clubs with related organization have developed voluntary road traffic safety activities such as the making of "Hiyari (shiver) Map" and they were given training and assistance to perform a leading role in traffic safety activities in the region and in homes.

From fiscal year 2006, the cabinet office executed “Safe Driving Promotion Project for the Elderly that Involves Participation, Experience and Practice” for the silver leaders and elderly people with influence in the regional activities in order to promote elderly people’s safe driving in the region, and thus made efforts to train those who can continuously take the lead in the elderly people’s traffic safety education. Moreover, “Three Generation Intercommunication Project for Children, Parents and the Elderly” in which three generations intercommunicate with the theme of traffic safety and “Visitation Project for Child-Raising and Elderly Households” designed to promote the concept of traffic safety by directly visiting child-raising and elderly households that do not have many opportunities to participate in various events or traffic safety classes were implemented.