On March 31, 2022 another facet of Japanese automotive life is disappearing. The NEXCO Highway Telephone, a mainstay of the Heisei Era, will end service. Offered by the Nippon Expressway Company, which runs Japan’s highway system, the Highway Telephone is exactly as it sounds. Drivers could dial in for region-specific 24-hour traffic updates and quickest routes like a non-visual, voice-operated Google Maps.
The Highway Telephone debuted in August 1999, back when R34 Skylines and JZA80 Supras still prowled the inter-prefecture roads of Japan. It seems almost charmingly outdated, but this was long before smartphones, and even a couple of years before the advent of 3G.
The system was comprised of 58 stations throughout the country. By dialing #8162 — a pun for “Yes, I’ll be back safely” when read in Japanese — drivers would automatically be patched into the closest station. A very official-sounding voice, whose tone and cadence is familiar to anyone whose been in a Japanese subway station, would then deliver the traffic report.
The reports were updated every five minutes and included information on traffic, road closures, and accidents. When call volumes were overwhelming, drivers got a recorded message. However, when the system wasn’t busy drivers could actually give an operator their starting points and destinations, and receive the quickest route.
NEXCO says the reason for the Highway Telephone’s discontinuation is because of smartphones. With real-time traffic updates in car navigation systems and from apps like Google Maps there’s really no reason to dial in anymore. The writing on the wall appeared last September when the #8162 service was abolished, forcing users to dial a 10-digit phone number for each of the 58 stations.
For those who absolutely refuse to use a smartphone app, there’s still hope. NEXCO still operates Highway Radio, which broadcasts across the country on the AM frequency 1620 kHz, as well as online updates easily accessible via smartphone. Alternatively, the Japan Road Traffic Information Center (JARTIC) still offers updates by phone.
The Highway Telephone wasn’t as deeply ingrained in life on the Japanese road as, say, Hino’s radio show for truckers, but many older drivers have fond memories of it. Some say that it was nice to be able to speak to an actual human to get route information, and that using an app is simply too impersonal and cold.
California has been considering removing the roadside emergency phones, citing cell phone use and usage stats, but the reason to keep it going is not everyone has a cell phone, dead batteries, coverage,etc.
Fun fact: some phones have defunct signs, such as old US395 in San Diego County, even though there are phones on the parallel I-15.
For those who can’t read the sign, it simply says “1620 kHz, Highway Radio Here”
Man.. I wish I could have my car there just to take pictures at phone booth.
NEXCO Central last month also discontinued printed maps. It’s a shame company cheapness results in this.