System upgrades introduced in June 1999 have made the system easier to use by facilitating Internet access and by allowing drivers to make verbal requests for information. In the event of an accident or an emergency, a mayday system contacts the operation center via a mobile telephone and reports the vehicle's location and the ID number of the onboard unit. It can be configured to initiate either manually or automatically. In many cases, this can prove to be a difference that saves lives. Toyota is working with the authorities to boost the system's use in practice in Japan.
Manned tollbooths are one of the main factors causing congestion on toll roads in Japan.
In 1994, the Japanese Ministry of Construction proposed electronic toll collection for toll highways as one part of an ITS technology development plan. Toyota has been working in collaboration with other Japanese firms to create the components of this system. To facilitate ETC, vehicles are fitted with a microwave tag located internally. When the vehicle approaches a toll gate, a signal is sent between the device and the gate so that the toll is automatically debited electronically from a prepaid card or designated bank account. Since vehicles no longer need to stop, ETC promises to be several times quicker than current manual toll collection.