Chapter 4 Ensuring Safe and Comfortable Traffic Conditions
Section 1 Traffic Accidents in 2014
The number of fatalities from traffic
accidents in 2014 was 4,113. While that
number has been steadily decreasing since2001, the reduction has recently shrunk due tothe increase in the population of the elderly
whose fatality rate is higher than that of otherage groups.

dangers of drunken driving and the facts about
accidents caused by drunken driving, thepolice are promoting participation, hands-on
experience and practice-type traffic safety
education using goggles that simulateintoxication and other equipment.

2 Promotion of the Safe Usage of Bicycles
The number of bicycle-related accidents in2014 was 109,269. While the number fell
from the previous year, it still accounts forapproximately 20% of overall traffic
accidents. The police are reinforcing guidance
and regulations for bicycle users, and striving
to make everyone aware of rules for bicycle
usage, including that cyclists should ride onstreets in principle.

Section 2 Boosting Traffic Safety
Awareness
1 Police Initiative to Eradicate Drunken
Driving
The number of traffic accidents due todrunken driving in 2014 was 4,155 in decrease
for fourteen consecutive years. As well asactively informing the public about theTrends in the numbers of traffic accidents, fatalities, injuries, licensed drivers, owned vehicles, kilometers driven(1966–2014)(People/10,000 people/ 10,000 vehicles/ 100 mil. km)
18,000(10,000 accidents/10,000 people)
140
Fatalities (People)

Injured(10,000 people)

14,000No. of traffic accidents and injured

100
12,0008060

10,0008,000Accidents(10,000 accidents)
6,000

40
No. of licensed drivers (10,000 people)

4,000

20Vehicle ownership(10,000 vehicles)

2,000

Vehicle km traveled (100 mil. km)

001966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Source: MLIT for the number of vehicle ownerships and the vehicle km traveled- 48 -(Year)

Fatalities/licensed drivers/vehicle ownership/vehicle km traveled

16,000

Fatalities within 30 daysof accident (People)

120

Trends in the numbers of drunk-driving accidents and drunk-driving fatal accidents (2005-2014)(Accidents)
1600(Accidents)
16,00011,6261200

12,000No. of drunk driving accidents
7,561

800

8,000
6,219

709

5,726

5,556

611

400

5,030

4,603

4,335

4,155

4,000

433
305

No. of drunk driving
fatal accidents

292

290

2009

2010

270

256

238

227

2011

2012

2013

2014

0

No. of drunk driving accidents

No. of drunk driving fatal accidents

13,878

0
2005

2006

2007

2008

Section 3 Ensuring Safe Driving
In order to ensure the safe driving ofautomobiles and other vehicles, the police areworking to enhance education for persons
seeking to acquire a driver’s license as well as
education after a driver’s license has been
issued and are also striving to implement strict
and prompt administrative dispositions against
drivers who repeatedly violate the Road
Traffic Act and/or cause serious accidents, toremove them from the road as soon aspossible.

Column: Amendment of the Road Traffic
Act as a Measure for the Prevention of
Traffic Accidents Involving Trucks
With due consideration to the situation ofsociety and with the aim of preventing
traffic accidents involving trucks, the Acton the Partial Amendment of the Road
Traffic Act, which includes the creation of alicense for semi-medium-sized vehicles,
which can be acquired from age 18, wasenacted at the 189th Diet session in June2015.

The creation of a License for Semi-Medium-Sized Vehicles

Gross weight of vehicle

5 tons11 tons

Ordinary vehicles
License for Ordinary Vehicles

Medium-sized vehicles
License for Medium-sized Vehicles

Large vehicles
License for Large Vehicles

18 years old or older

20 years old or older
Holding ordinary driver's license etc.
for 2 years or longer

21 years old or older
Holding ordinary driver's license etc.
for 3 years or longer

Gross weight of vehicle

Ordinary vehicles
License for OrdinaryVehicles
18 years old or older

7.5 tons

3.5 tons

Semi-Medium-sizedvehicles
License for Semi-Mediumsized Vehicles
18 years old or older

11 tons

Medium-sized vehicles

Large vehicles

License for Medium-sized
VehiclesLicense for Large Vehicles

20 years old or older
Holding ordinary driver's
license etc. for 2 years or longer- 49 -

21 years old or older
Holding ordinary driver's license etc.
for 3 years or longer

Section 4 Traffic Environment Improvement
1 Developing Safe and Secure Traffic
Environments
To achieve safety and smooth traffic flow,
the police are working to improve traffic
safety facilities such as traffic lights and roadsigns. At the same time, to address the issue of
deteriorating traffic lights and other facilities
in service for a long time, the police areworking on replacing deteriorating facilities,
extending the service life of facilities,
reducing life-cycle costs from a medium- andlong-term perspective on the basis of NPA’s
Action Plan for Life Extension ofInfrastructure.

enacted in June 2013, came into force in
September 2014, and circular intersections
had been introduced at 43 locations by theend of FY2014.
Since circular intersections are expected
to contribute to decreases in the number ofaccidents, mitigation in damage andshortening of waiting time at intersections
aswellas
toimprovements
indisaster-response capabilities, the police
will continue to promote the introduction ofcircular intersections at proper locations.

2 Ensuring the Safe Passage of Pedestrians
by Improving Traffic EnvironmentsTo ensure the safe passage of pedestrians
and others using community roads inresidential areas, the police are cooperatingwith road administrators to promote theestablishment of 30km/hr. zones. By the endof 2014, 30km/hr. zones were established in
1,827 places.

Column:IntroductionofCircularIntersections
Special provisions for the establishmentof traffic rules for circular intersections,which are part of the Act on the Partial
Amendment of the Road Traffic Act

Illustration showing the implementation status of 30km/hr. zones
Measures at theentrance of a zone

Measures within a 30 km/hr. zone

Installing a zone
regulatory sign

Speed regulation

Regulations such as
prohibiting use bylarge vehicles

Installing speed
humps

Measures in the vicinity of a zone
Installing a (nonregulatory) traffic
markingChanging traffic
signal control

Installing a rightturn lane

<Legend>
Measures

Measures implemented by the Public
Safety Commission

Measures

Measures implemented by the roadadministrator
Measures implemented by the Public Safety
Commission or the road administrator

Measures- 50 -

Installing/wideningof side strips andelimination of thecenterline