According to Nikkei, Transport Minister Chikage Ogi has said that the government is considering renting car-mounted devices for an electronic toll collection (ETC) system in a bid to increase the use of the system.

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The ETC system enables drivers with special devices installed in their cars to pay expressway tolls without stopping at toll booths. However, the devices cost some 30,000 yen – and take-up has been slow since the ETC system went operational in Japan in March 2001. The Nikkei report says that only 2.6% of all vehicles use the ETC system.

Nikkei reports that the Minister said: “It would be ideal if all new vehicles came with ETC devices.” She then added that “if consumers want a device rental system, the ministry will study the issue.”

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