In January, heavy snow caused people to become stranded on the Meishin Expressway in Gifu Prefecture, and the Central Japan Expressway has decided to deploy observers to check the road surface and vehicle driving conditions when heavy snow is expected. We have put together an emergency response plan.
On the 24th of last month, heavy snow on the Meishin Expressway caused people to become stranded near the Sekigahara Interchange in Gifu Prefecture, and it took approximately 34 hours for the road closure to be completely lifted.
For this reason, on the 2nd, Central Japan Expressway compiled emergency countermeasures to prevent a recurrence.
If heavy snow is expected, "watchers" will be stationed to check the road surface and vehicle driving conditions using images from cameras installed on the expressway to prevent stranded roads.
In addition, in the event of a stranded vehicle, we plan to have personnel on standby at service areas or interchanges near the section where the stranded vehicle may occur, in order to quickly deliver food and fuel to drivers.
On the other hand, we would like to consider revising the standards for preventive road closures in the future based on the opinions of experts.
Central Nippon Expressway commented, ``To prevent a similar incident from occurring again, we will establish emergency operations that prioritize human life and ensure safety and security.''