I. Title of the Best Practice

II. Overview of the Best Practice

A. Features of ITS

1. Background
Because about 11 percent of automobile fuel consumed in Japan is wasted due to traffic congestion, alleviation of this congestion will help reduce CO2 emissions. ITS aims to reduce traffic congestion and ensure efficient road transportation by using the latest information and communication technologies. The Ministry of Construction is promoting ITS in cooperation with other sectors and through improvements in the information and communications infrastructure, to be near completion at the beginning of the 21st century. These efforts will contribute to reductions in CO2 emissions.

2. Contents of the Practice
The ITS initiatives are:

• Enhancement of navigation systems: expanding nationwide Vehicle Information and Communication Systems (VICS).
• Installation of Electronic Toll Collection Systems (ETC).
• Optimization of traffic management: controlling traffic signals depending on traffic volume by improving control centers and centralizing traffic signal controls.

In addition, other initiatives are being implemented such as improving efficiency of road management (e.g. providing information on status of road restrictions, etc.), assisting public transportation (e.g. providing information for using public transportation), improving efficiency of commercial vehicles, promoting safe driving, giving support for pedestrians, and providing assistance for operation of emergency vehicles, etc.
Promotion of ITS is expected to reduce 1.1 million tons (carbon equivalent) of CO2 emissions in 2010 and save 1.5 million kiloliters of energy.

B. Reasons for Inclusion as a Best Practice

• It is a challenging and emerging approach.
• It can contribute to the formation of future policies to prevent global warming.
• It can be evaluated quantitatively and/or qualitatively.

C. Problems and their solutions
The government will assess the challenges relating to expansion of ETC and VICS, and make efforts to address them.

III. Categorizing the Best Practice

1. Classification(s)
( ) Regulatory Approach (Policy approaches-regulations, incentives, etc.)
( X ) Practical Action (Action undertaken independently by a social actor)
( ) Social Network Mechanism (Cooperative structure)

2. Social Actor(s) Involved
( ) Citizens
( X ) Central government
( X ) Local government
( X ) Business

3. Sector(s)
( X ) Energy
( X ) Residential
( X ) Industrial
( X ) Transportation
( ) Commerce
( ) Agriculture/Land Use/ Forestry
( ) Others ( )

4. Target Greenhouse Gas(es)
( X ) CO2
( ) CH4
( ) N2O
( ) HFC
( ) PFC
( ) SF6
( ) Other ( )

IV. List of Attachments

Omitted

V. Please indicate a person to contact for more information about this Best Practice.

Contact Person:	Yutaka Hourai
Title:
Organization:	ITS Promotion Team, Road Bureau, Ministry of Construction
Email:	yutaka-hourai@road.go.jp
Tel:	+81-3-5251-1778
Fax:	+81-3-3503-7588
Address:	2-1-3, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 109-8944, Japan
Note:	N/A