The Hatoyama administration April 9 announced a new expressway toll system that will take effect in June. The new system will cap per-day tolls on motorcycles and minicars at ¥1,000, standard-size cars at ¥2,000 and larger vehicles, including trucks and buses, at ¥5,000 or ¥10,000 depending on their size. From July, a ¥1,000 cap will be applied to fuel-efficient standard-size cars.

In tandem with the new tariff, from June the government will abolish tolls in 50 sections on 37 routes — about 18 percent of the nation's expressway network. It will also eliminate many existing discounts, including a ¥1,000 cap on holidays for cars equipped with electronic toll charge (ETC) devices introduced by the previous administration in March 2009. The present system of charging a flat rate based on prefectural zones for the Metropolitan Expressway and the Hanshin Expressway will be replaced with one that costs between ¥500 and ¥900, depending on distance traveled.

The new system of relatively cheap caps could cause many problems. The extension of discounts to all vehicles and the expansion of the discount period from weekends and holidays to every day will likely increase traffic congestion. Accordingly, operators of public transportation systems such as trains, ferries and buses could face financial difficulties.