こんにちはmasamasaです。
前回のconversationは誰も来ないという非常事態（笑）が発生致しましたので、
次回もばくさんが用意してくれたthemeを使用したいと思います。
曜日の相談ができなかったので、独断で15日水曜日とさせていただきました^^
ご参加よろしくお願いします！

ps:dictationは16日木曜日です。

Good evening, everyone.

Here's the reading material I prepared
to use for the next conversation training.

You can read this over and bring some answers
to the questions below, in advance.

This material says about ETC, or Electronic Toll Collection System.
The expressway tolls will be up to \1,000 over the weekends from the end of March.

See the following URL.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090323TDY02304.htm


Rush to buy ETC devices takes toll on supply chain
The Yomiuri Shimbun


A sign tells customers electronic toll collection system devices have sold out at a Tokyo auto accessories store.With the discounting of expressway tolls over the weekend, a flood of people have rushed to obtain electronic toll collection system devices necessary for taking advantage of the discount, causing a nationwide shortage of the units.

Last week, about 320,000 units were sold across the country. One store still has 400 back orders.

Some people still waiting for a device are disgruntled with the situation as they likely will not be able to obtain one before the discount tolls are introduced Saturday. The Construction and Transport Ministry has apologized for the confusion.

It costs about 20,000 yen to 30,000 yen to buy and install an ETC device.

Since March 12, a ministry-affiliated foundation has been providing subsidies of 5,250 yen to install ETC devices in four-wheel vehicles and 15,750 yen for motorbikes, further stimulating consumer interest.

A spokesman for nationwide auto accessories store chain Autobacs Seven Co., which operates about 500 outlets, said, "Most of our stores are running out of stock and we don't know when we will get further deliveries."

Super Autobacs Tokyo Bay Shinonome sold 2-1/2 months' worth of ETC units from March 12 to 15, but still has about 400 back orders.

A 39-year-old man of Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, said, "I'm disappointed that I won't be able to get hold of one for a while."

Responding to the sharp increase in demand for the devices, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. doubled its production of the units in February and March, while Denso Corp. has increased its output by 1.6-fold since late last year.

An employee of another ETC device manufacturer said, "There are limitations on production increases because we can't get hold of the necessary parts."

The foundation had expected to receive about 100,000 applications for subsidies by the end of this month. However, it received more than 300,000 applications in the first week alone.

"Our expectations were too optimistic," a foundation spokesman said.

Ahead of the introduction of the nationwide toll discount, East Nippon Expressway Co. on Friday cut the toll for the Tokyo Bay Aqualine, which connects Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, and Kawasaki, to 1,000 yen for each ETC device-equipped ordinary-sized car on weekends and national holidays.

According to the company, about 41,000 vehicles used the bridge-tunnel expressway on Friday, an increase of about 20 percent compared with average traffic figures registered on the third Saturday and Sunday of last March.

(Mar. 23, 2009)


Questions:

Q1) Do you have an ETC system on your own car?
If so, how convenient is it, and how often do you use it?

Q2) Do you have any plan to go out far away by the car through the express way on weekends?

Q3) What do you think about the toll discount for the express way.