Study on Provision of Winter Road Snowstorm Information to Road Users

In recent years, Hokkaido has seen traffic hazards caused by snowstorms as a result of rapidly developing low-pressure systems even in areas where, until now, the frequency of snowstorms has been relatively low. This fact highlights the importance of providing information on winter road driving environments such as snowstorm conditions, prompting appropriate responses from drivers to enhance the safety and reliability of winter roads. Thus, the authors conducted tests on providing information on winter road conditions, such as visibility during snowstorms, via personal computers (PCs) and mobile phones. The information provided in the test was as follows: (1) Information on visibility in each area of Hokkaido during a snowstorm (PCs and mobile phones); (2) Information on visibility on roads in each municipality during a snowstorm (PCs and mobile phones); (3) Information on driving time required according to the winter driving environment (only PCs); and (4) Snowstorm information on winter roads collected from road users (only PCs). An online questionnaire survey was also conducted on the effectiveness of the information on visibility in each area of Hokkaido during a snowstorm. The results showed that 90% or more respondents found the snowstorm visibility information of each Hokkaido area useful, confirming the effectiveness of the information. In addition, 80% or more respondents used the information on visibility conditions and driving time for routes in each municipality as reference for departure and arrival times, and approximately 50% referred to it for examining alternative routes. This showed the information was useful for road users to make driving plans.