Learning from Japanese highway experience

One of the new private highways in Japan. [Photo:Courtesy]

By Patrick Mungai

About two months ago, a promising young Kenyan professional and a friend died on Nairobi – Thika highway in a ghastly motor accident. It was late at night when it happened and there was no one to rescue him and take him to hospital in time to save his life. He left a young family, lonely and uncertain of its future.

Had this accident occurred on a highway in Japan, Jackson would probably be alive today. The accident would have been spotted by highway patrol cameras immediately and assistance provided to him in good time.

Japan has many lessons Kenya could learn from about road safety on its highways and stop the more than 3,000 deaths on the roads every year.

This is even more pertinent now as Kenya continues to build new highways as a way forward towards its development goal 2030. Indeed Finance Minister, Njeru Githae, said recently that “infrastructure development was one of the key pillars of Vision 2030 and the sector was expected to grow at the rate of 4.1 percent annually. Indeed, this sector has been identified as one of the key drivers of Kenya’s economic growth.”

The opening of the newly rehabilitated 240 km Athi River – Namanga – Arusha highway  with funds from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), EADB and Kenya and Tanzania governments shall provide renewed trade between Kenya and Tanzania as well as for many South and Central Africa countries. The road which cost US $ 164m road shall also link these countries to Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan by providing safe transportation of goods and passengers as well as development of tourism.

Road safety

Like the Nairobi – Thika highway and others elsewhere, road safety shall continue to be of prime importance to the realisation of the gains of these highways. Japanese experience has shown that road safety can be attained not only through careful motoring but also good road maintenance and management of traffic.

The highway from Tokyo to Fiji, like many others in Japan, is a joy to drive on. No potholes, all road signs are in place, and it is under a 24-hour camera surveillance from an elaborate control centre at Kawasaki, just outside Tokyo. The centre has an impressive surveillance room comprising 64 monitors showing several spots on the road at any time and from over 700 cameras along the way. These cameras flash pictures of traffic flow and any unexpected incidents along the road on which over a million vehicles pass every day. Nippon Express Way Company (Nexco) owns and manages the highway.

The monitors at the control room easily pick out any accidents that might happen and assistance to the affected drivers is given in less than 10 minutes by the patrol team. The motorist can also call for help to the control room as soon as they are in problems. Emergency telephones have been erected at short intervals to enable motorists call for help when needed.

The newly re-constructed Athi River-Namanga –Arusha Road. [Photo: Courtesy]

The highway is one of the many private roads in Japan built by Nexco, a commercial initiative that took off after Japan in 2005 allowed private companies to build private roads and charge toll to the users. “This ushered a new era for the transportation industry in this Japan,” says Hayashi Kunihiko, director of the expressway control centre at Kawasaki, adding that this has grown to generate over 6 billion yen a year for the company.

Maintenance

Over the years, Nexco has constructed over 1,923 kilometres of superhighways in Japan and to the highest standards and managed them so that the motorists who use them can get value for their money. Of great importance is the maintenance of the roads so that they remain smooth throughout the year.

Nexco, says Kunihiko, constructs, maintains and operates the expressway network that supports cultural and socioeconomic activities of Japan.  The expressway network covers metropolitan Tokyo, Chubu, Hokuriku and Kinki areas.

The highways are constructed with gentler curves and slopes making them safer, more comfortable to drive on and environmentally friendly. Many world class technologies are incorporated into the design and construction of the roads and bridges which is important in a place like Japan which experiences frequent earthquakes. Most of these engineering technologies have been developed in Japan, and the company says they are only too willing to share this with developing countries.  Tunnels are specially lit to make motoring easy and visibility enhanced.

Enhanced visibility

The highways have comfortable and convenient rest areas with attractive shops, restaurants and other facilities, some like dog cafe’s, sounding quite unfamiliar. This has revitalised the economy of local communities which sell locally produced products to travellers all based on the concept that all good roads should improve economy and life.  Roads are constructed in a way that they do not damage the communities’ environment especially in the mountainous areas.

Because the company monitors on cameras traffic along the highways, it is able to advice motorists on radio what to expect ahead of them. For example, if there is an accident or traffic congestion, the motorists are advised way ahead so that they can make necessary preparations. This information once gathered is posted immediately on electronic signs along the road at locations which are easy for the motorists to read even at high speeds. This makes drivers make necessary and useful decisions as they drive. This comprehensive traffic management has reduced traffic congestion and accidents by over 90 percent.

If there are obstacles on the road, like items dropped from moving traffic, they are identified and quickly removed by a team which patrols the roads in vans. This reduces the danger for other motorists. If during winter ice has formed on the roads, it is quickly removed so that the road stays safe for the motorists.

Kuhiniko says weather reports such as heavy rains and snow are also relayed to the drivers just in case there are adverse conditions ahead. The company also carries out daily routine maintenance checks paying particular attention to tunnels which could pose risks especially collapsing in areas where the soils are unstable. Bridges are also carefully checked for any possible wear or cracks hat could pose a danger to motorists.

Traffic lights are also checked regularly to ensure that they are in working condition and rectified when need arises. Also fire control points have been constructed along the tunnels so that in the event of a fire, the motorists are evacuated without delay.

In the event of an accident, the control room once alerted also helps the drivers call an ambulance and inform the police immediately. They also help the motorist to tow the vehicle to safety and clear the road for other motorists.

Such highways echo the expectations of Kenya’s Minister for roads Franklin Bett who recently said: “A high quality road network is a treasured asset for any economy and its maintenance and safety needs to be managed in the most appropriate manner.”

Roads permanent secretary Michael Kamau sees road development as the key to becoming a middle income country by the year 2030. Now that Athi River - Namanga – Arusha and the Nairobi - Thika highways are among Kenya’s most modern and are very busy, is it possible to manage them like those owned by Nexco in Japan?

This would keep them well maintained and deaths from accidents would be drastically reduced.