The Central Nippon Expressway Company, known as NEXCO中日本, released video footage of a passenger car crashing due to drowsy driving [1].
Highway authorities are using the graphic imagery to highlight the extreme risks of falling asleep at the wheel. The footage serves as a public warning to encourage drivers to take early breaks and prioritize rest to prevent similar tragedies.
The incident occurred at night on the Tōmei Expressway near the Yokohama-Machida interchange [2, 3]. The video shows a passenger car colliding with a cushion drum at the junction between the main line and the interchange ramp [2, 3]. Upon impact, the vehicle was thrown into the air and shattered [2, 3].
NEXCO中日本 released the footage to emphasize that monotony on highways can lead to sudden fatigue. According to the agency, drivers tend to feel sleepy about every two hours [1] when traveling on monotonous roads such as expressways.
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact date the video was made public. One report states the video was posted on May 7, 2026 [4], while another indicates it was released on Nov. 1 [5].
The agency said the goal of the release is to remind motorists that drowsiness can strike quickly and without warning. By showing the violent result of a high-speed collision with safety equipment, officials hope to change driver behavior regarding rest stops. The company said drivers should not wait until they feel exhausted to pull over.
“The video shows a passenger car colliding with a cushion drum... the vehicle was thrown into the air and shattered.”
The release of actual crash footage by a state-affiliated infrastructure company reflects a shift toward high-impact visual deterrence in public safety campaigns. By utilizing 'shock' imagery from their own surveillance cameras, NEXCO中日本 is attempting to counteract the complacency drivers often feel on long, monotonous stretches of highway where the perceived risk of an accident is low until the moment of impact.
