Record-setting snowfalls along the Sea of Japan coast have left thousands of vehicles stranded for hours on expressways and other roads in a series of incidents this winter.
Even in areas regarded as well-prepared to handle snow, sudden and heavy blizzards made driving impossible for vehicles lacking proper equipment, and the turmoil was exacerbated by slow responses by expressway operators and local governments.
In Toyama Prefecture, a total of up to about 260 vehicles were left stuck overnight in the snow in both directions on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway on Jan. 9-10. It started when a large truck was stranded on a southbound lane between the Fukumitsu Interchange and the Oyabe-Tonami Junction just past 3 p.m. on Jan. 9. The truck had snow tires but not tire chains, and was unable to get enough traction to escape from the snow. Central Nippon Expressway Co., or Nexco Central, was unable to move the truck and a long line of vehicles formed.
As more vehicles became stuck on the expressway, the operator finally closed the section to traffic at 7 p.m. "These incidents greatly affected other drivers," Nexco Central said. "We will examine what happened to improve our operation for the future."
The Toyama prefectural government was also slow in responding. It was not until 4 a.m. on Jan. 10 that it requested the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to rescue the stranded vehicles. The snowfall had already passed its peak, but the prefectural government also set up a task force at that time.
Many drivers spent the night in their cars, and it would not be until 10 p.m. that all of the stranded vehicles were cleared.
"It's difficult to determine the timing for setting up a task force," a prefectural government official said. "We may have made a different decision in the end."
--Niigata Pref. learns lesson
Conversely, Niigata Prefecture has had no snow-related incidents this month despite heavy snowfalls, as it seeks to avoid a repeat from December last year, when up to 2,100 vehicles were left stranded on the Kanetsu Expressway for three days.
East Nippon Expressway Co., or Nexco East, now proactively closes the expressway before any vehicles get stuck, having learned its lesson from the previous debacle when it was late in closing the road.
During recent snowfalls, Nexco East shut a total of five sections on four expressways running through the prefecture as a precaution. In addition, the operator deployed tow trucks and small snow blowers near interchanges with the aim of freeing stranded vehicles as quickly as possible.
The main causes of such snow-related gridlock are when large vehicles get stuck and when vehicles can't stop and have an accident. The Japan Trucking Association on Monday called on all transport companies to ensure that all drivers use snow tires.
However, snow tires alone are not enough. Chains are more effective, especially for driving on slopes. According to a survey conducted by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry in 2015, 75% of cars stranded in snow had snow tires, but 90% of those were not equipped with chains.
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