# Utilizing ICT and Promoting Technology Research and Development

## Section 1

## Promoting Innovation in the Fields of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism Through the Use of ICT

Information technology initiatives in the fields of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism within the Declaration to be the World's Most Advanced IT Nation (revised on June 30, 2015) are being promoted in coordination with the IT Strategic Headquarters (Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society) as headed by the Prime Minister.

## Promoting ITS

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), a system created through the integration of people, roads, and vehicles using the latest Information and Communications Technology (ICT), enables advanced road use, the safety of drivers and pedestrians, the dramatic improvement of transport efficiency and comfort, solves various social problems such as traffic accidents and congestion, environmental and energy problems, and is leading to the creation of new markets in the related fields of the automotive industry, information technology industry, and others.

We are also proactively promoting initiatives pertaining to the collection and distribution of road traffic information effective for safety measures, congestion measures, and disaster countermeasures in accordance with our aim to realize the world’s safest, environmentally friendly, economical road traffic society based on our Declaration to be the World’s Most Advanced IT Nation, which was endorsed by the Cabinet in June 2013 and revised in June 2014 and June 2015, and our Public-Private Partnership-Based ITS Concept and Roadmap, which was endorsed by the IT Strategic Headquarters in June 2014 and revised in June 2015.

## (i) The Spread of ITS in Society and its Effect

## (A) Promotion of ETC and its Effects

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) is now available on all national expressways, as well as most of the toll roads in Japan. The total number of new setup onboard units is roughly 51.25 million as of September 2015 and its usage rate on all national expressways is roughly 90.0%. Congestion at tollgates, which used to account for roughly 30% of the cause for expressway congestion, has been mostly alleviated and has contributed to reductions in $ CO_{2} $ emissions and environmental burdens. Additionally, measures utilizing ETC are being implemented, such as the introduction of Smart IC dedicated to ETC interchange and discounts for ETC vehicles. In addition to such toll road uses, it is also possible to use ETC for parking payments and boarding procedures for ferries, showing the spread and diversification of services utilizing ETC.

## (B) Improvement of Providing Road Traffic Information and its Effects

Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS)-compatible onboard units aim to advance travel route guidance and, as of September, 2015, roughly 48.37 million units have been shipped. By providing road traffic information such as travel time, congestion conditions, and traffic restrictions in real-time through VICS, drivers' convenience is improved. This ultimately contributes to better mileage and reduces environmental burdens, including the reduction of $ CO_{2} $ emissions.

## (ii) Technological Development and the Popularization of New ITS Services

### (A) Utilizing ETC2.0

We are committed to promoting several “smart use of roads” measures. These include introduction of flexible toll rates to reduce congestion and accidents and promotion of highly productive logistics management system, through the use of