December 24, 2013 President Kaneko's regular interview

【MC】

Thank you for waiting. We will start the 90th regular conference right now.

 

[President Kaneko]

I would like to say a few words before introducing the topics.

Sasago Tunnel One year has passed since the fall of the ceiling board, and a memorial service was held on the 2nd of this month. On the day, the bereaved or injured person, the officials of the national or prefectural government, etc. attended and at 8:03 am the time of the accident, at the east entrance of Sasago Tunnel near the accident site , And silently offered flowers to the nine dead people.

At the memorial service, we prayed for the happiness of those who died again and apologized to the bereaved families. We pledged to continue to sincerely respond to the bereaved family members and those who suffered damage, and to thoroughly promote efforts to prevent recurrence and improve safety.

We received words of mourning from the bereaved family, but each of us received the feelings and thoughts touched by the words firmly, carved deeply into our hearts, and steadily implemented the ``3-Year Plan for Improving Safety'' The Group will work together to prevent recurrence and improve safety.

 

As one of the initiatives in this “ 3-Year Plan for Improving Safety ” two joint research projects aiming to enhance inspection technology were solicited and contracts were concluded with the joint research companies that cooperated. Let me do it. Please see document 1.

The purpose of this joint research is to improve the inspection technology with the aim of further improving the reliability of the inspection technology and ensuring objectivity. Specifically, we will conduct research aimed at objectively judging the reliability of inspection objects from data that quantify the behavior of structures and road accessories.

As a step up to now, RFI (abbreviation of Request For Information) in May this year will be released, and after reviewing the information received, we would like to promote technological development first. We started joint research on two cases.

 

The first is “Research on high-precision or high-efficiency sensors that contribute to close-up visual inspection and sound inspection”.
This is a technique to quantify the performance of "post-installation anchors" that fix road accessories and to objectively evaluate and judge their reliability.

In this study, we prepared test pieces that assumed deterioration, performed measurements using sensors of collaborators gathered in open recruitment, and finally compared the results of destructive inspections to evaluate the degree of soundness. We aim to establish index values.
We plan to conduct joint research with seven companies that have applied for the open call for participants. The period is scheduled until September next year.

The second is “Technology for measuring abnormalities such as deformation while driving at high speed”.
This is a research on the in-vehicle laser scanner, a technology that measures while running a vehicle equipped with a laser and camera to detect the displacement and deformation of the tunnel wall and equipment installed in the tunnel.

Through a combination of 3D surveying and image processing technology, we aim to detect minute deformations of the sky inside the tunnel, etc. during the daily inspection run by vehicles equipped with sensors. Measurement is performed using an actual tunnel to verify measurement accuracy, ability to measure in one day, cost, software processing time, etc.
We plan to conduct joint research with one company that applied for the open call for participants. The period is until June of next year.

Since any joint research may be contractual, we will refrain from publishing the joint research companies that cooperate. We will announce again when certain research results are available.

 

[Current status of business (November 2013)]
Please see Appendix 2.

Toll revenue in November was 44,196 million yen, an increase of 4.4% compared to the same month of the previous year, and the average number of traffic per day was 2,057,000 units, an increase of 5.9% compared to the same month of the previous year. .
Ken-O Road In addition to the effects of the opening of some sections and blessed weather, especially on holidays, the use of so-called industrial transportation over medium-sized vehicles was favorable, resulting in positive revenue and volume.

Next is the construction situation.
Regarding the Sagamiharaaikawa IC-Takaosan IC 15㎞, although there is a section that has not yet been taken over by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which is a joint operator, we are aiming to open in fiscal 2013 and proceed with the business including coordination with related organizations. Where you are.
2014 fiscal year, Shin-Tomei Expwy is a Aichi Prefecture section of HamamatsuInasa JCT-Toyota-higashi JCT 55km, Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway of Obama IC-Tsuruga JCT 39Km, Ken-O Road of SamukawakitaInterchange IC aimed at opening of ~ Ebina JCT 4km We are working diligently.

Next is the usage status of ETC. The average daily usage rate in November was 91.3%.

Next is the status of the service area.
In November, service area sales were ¥ 16,313 million, an increase of 8.5% year-on-year.
Sales in the Food & Beverage Division increased 3.5% year-on-year. This is due to the fact that the number of “holidays” with high sales was one day higher than last year, and sales on weekdays were also good.
Sales in the Gasoline Division were 23.4% year-on-year, a significant increase, as in the previous month. In addition to the increase in the amount of oil, we believe that the unit price of gasoline is about 13 yen per liter.

[The year-end and New Year period Expressway Traffic jam forecast in]
Please see Appendix 3.

The peak of traffic congestion at the end of the year Out-bound The lines are December 28 (Saturday) and 29 (Sunday), In-bound The line is January 2 (Thursday) to 4 (Saturday). In addition, during the year-end and New Year period, the number of traffic jams over 10 km is expected to be 87 times, of which 30 km or more is expected to be 9 times.

We provide traffic congestion prediction information and road traffic information in the traffic congestion prediction guide distributed at hand, on the official website and in “ iHighway Central Japan,” which can be easily viewed on smartphones. Please use it before departure and use it to avoid traffic jams.
Expressway, the following cargo collides with the vehicle that was stopped on the shoulder by the accident, and the driver who got off from the stopped vehicle was caught in, or the rear seat was out of the vehicle when it hit the guardrail and rolled over. Seven people have died in our jurisdiction even in November alone, such as being released.

In October, there was a painful accident in which a car with a famous talent on a Chinese road caused a single accident and then died in contact with the following vehicle. Such Expressway The number of accidents that result in contact with the following vehicles has increased in recent years. We also continue to raise awareness through posters and traffic safety awareness goods, but to reduce accidents Expressway We believe that it is important to deepen the understanding of each and every customer who uses. If an accident occurs or is involved, it is important to protect yourself, such as "signing to the following vehicle with a hazard lamp, flame tube, stop indicator, etc." I want you to know.

At the beginning of the new year, when you drive, wear seat belts at all seats, be prepared for winter driving, and enjoy a safe and comfortable highway drive.
These are the topics we prepared today.

 

【MC】

Now, we are ready to receive your questions.

 

[Reporter]

Please look back on this year and aspirations and initiatives for next year.

 

[President Kaneko]

Looking back on this year, 9 survivors, those who were injured, those who were injured, and those who were damaged by the car itself due to the fall of the ceiling plate of the Sasago Tunnel on December 2, last year I guess there was something we couldn't do, but we've responded sincerely. Responding to bereaved families has been a top priority for the company. Immediately after the accident, we worked to open Chuo Expressway Expressway, Japan's main road, as soon as possible. In addition, the entire company cooperated in the investigation of the cause of the accident.

Next, based on deep remorse and determination that such accidents should never occur, we worked on the formulation of the “ 3-Year Plan for Improving Safety ” and announced it in July. In order to execute this plan steadily, we are changing employee awareness of safety, reforming business processes, and reforming the organization. The organizational reform will change from a so-called business headquarters system to an executive system centered on Regional Head Office close to the site, and will review the business executive system around the first quarter of next fiscal year.

By implementing these, we will make it a company that will never cause such an accident, and Expressway You must recover as soon as possible the trust you have lost. It was a measure for that, and the year of the start of implementation.

My next goal is to improve safety first. In the three years up to 2015, we will steadily implement the three-year 3-Year Plan for Improving Safety, ensure transparency as much as possible, inform our plans and results, and work to restore trust.

 

[Reporter]

What kind of company the partner company is about for the open joint research, how much is spent on the joint research, Expressway Please tell me how the company participates.

 

[President Kaneko]

The partner company is research dealing with sensors, so you can imagine it as a manufacturer and company related to it. In joint research, we will propose technologies that partner companies have, and we will jointly study whether such technologies can be used for the inspection technology we are seeking. For example, our company shares the role of producing test pieces and verifying knowledge together with academic experts, and will bear the costs of each other. In addition, this joint research is our own initiative, Expressway The company is not participating. We will let you know as soon as the results of these studies have been finalized.

 

【MC】

It seems that the question has been interrupted, so this will end the regular press conference.