Archive · 28 Jul 2025
Japanese Toll System Crashes, Thousands Still Pay Despite Outage
Imagine the toll gates on the highway stopped working.
In Japan, drivers usually pay electronically, but the system broke down for a day and a half.
The government decided to let everyone pass for free to keep traffic moving.
Even though they didn't have to, about 24,000 people still paid their tolls later because they knew it was the right thing to do.
The highway company later decided to forgive the tolls for everyone who went through the broken gates, refunding those who had already paid.
Japan's electronic toll collection (ETC) system failed for approximately 38 hours on April 8 and 9.
106 toll gates on major expressways in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures were affected.
NEXCO Central, the expressway operator, allowed vehicles to pass freely during the outage.
Approximately 24,000 drivers voluntarily paid the toll fees later, despite the free passage.
The expressway operator waived tolls for vehicles that passed through affected areas.
- Who
- Drivers using the affected expressways and NEXCO Central, the expressway operator.
- What
- The electronic toll collection (ETC) system on Japanese expressways failed, causing toll gates to malfunction.
- When
- April 8 and most of April 9
- Where
- Tomei and Chuo Expressways in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures
- Why
- The system malfunctioned, and NEXCO Central opened the gates to keep traffic moving.
Public Trust and Civic Duty
System Reliability and Convenience
Motivation for Payment
Public Trust and Civic Duty
High level of trust in society, as drivers voluntarily paid tolls.
System Reliability and Convenience
Drivers may have paid out of a sense of obligation or fear of repercussions.
- Affected System
- ETC (electronic toll collection)
- Duration of Outage
- Approximately 38 hours
- Affected Areas
- Tokyo and surrounding prefectures
- Toll Gates Affected
- 106
- Voluntary Payments
- Approximately 24,000 drivers
- Toll Policy
- Tolls waived for affected vehicles