Highways in the northeast damaged by the March 11 disasters were given toll-free status Thursday to assist the region's recovery.
The move follows one made earlier in the year to exempt people displaced by the disasters and subsequent nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture from paying tolls in Tohoku from June.
Under the new measure, all types of vehicles will be able to drive free everyday on highways along the Pacific coast in Tohoku, including the three hardest-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. Under the new system, disaster victims and evacuees from the three prefectures as well as some municipalities in Aomori and Ibaraki prefectures will be able to drive on all highways for free if they are traveling to or from the disaster zone and can present relevant certificates at the toll gates.
On the Sea of Japan coast, where damage was relatively slight, expressways were made toll-free for cars or smaller vehicles using the electronic toll collection system on weekends and holidays.