NEXCO Central Japan released video footage of a passenger car being destroyed after a severe crash on the Tōmei Expressway [1].
The release serves as a public safety warning about the dangers of drowsy driving, which can lead to catastrophic vehicle loss and injury even on well-maintained roads.
The incident occurred at the divergence point between the main line and the interchange near the Yokohama-Machida IC [2]. According to the footage, the vehicle collided with a cushion drum, which threw the car into the air. The vehicle rolled multiple times and was largely destroyed upon impact [1], [2].
Officials attributed the crash to the driver falling asleep at the wheel [1]. NEXCO Central Japan used the footage to highlight a specific physiological risk associated with long-distance travel. The agency said that drivers on low-activity highways tend to become sleepy roughly every two hours [1], regardless of whether they are suffering from prior sleep deprivation.
NEXCO Central Japan posted the video to its official social media channels on April 12, 2026 [2]. Other media outlets reported on the footage later, with some publishing the clips on May 7, 2026 [3]. This campaign follows previous safety warnings, including a similar video released on July 17, 2025 [4].
The agency continues to urge motorists to take regular breaks to combat the onset of fatigue. By sharing the graphic nature of the Yokohama-Machida crash, the company aims to visualize the immediate consequences of a few seconds of unconsciousness while driving at high speeds.
“The vehicle collided with a cushion drum, which threw the car into the air.”
The release of this footage indicates a strategic shift by Japanese highway authorities to use 'shock' visuals to combat drowsy driving. By emphasizing that sleepiness can occur every two hours even without sleep deprivation, NEXCO is targeting a broader range of drivers beyond those who are chronically tired, framing highway hypnosis as a universal physiological risk.
