## 2 -3 Ensuring safe driving practices

## - Enhancement of measures for elderly drivers

In the training for the elderly drivers, which is mandatory for drivers aged 70 or above, the necessary aptitude for driving is examined by asking them to actually drive automobiles and also by using the driving aptitude check equipment. Thus, they are encouraged to realize the physical functional changes and advice and guidance is given on the basis of that result as part of the teaching contents. Those people who have taken this course are not required to take a class when renewing their driving license. 1,354,401 received the training for the elderly drivers in 2007.

In the training at the time of renewing the license, an elderly people's class is organized for those people who are 65-year-old or more and less than 70-year-old and instructions were given on the characteristics of elderly people's driving and road traffic accident characteristics of elderly drivers.

## - Enhancement of guidance for and monitoring of automobile transportation operators

Along with carrying out a thorough inspection of business operators who caused a major accident and of new business operators, joint inspection and control by the concerned authorities carried out on the taxi operators is also carried out on bus and truck operators, and thus enhancement of the inspection enforcement system and reinforcements are made. Besides promoting the establishment of the safety management system from the top management to the field site workers in accordance with the “Transport Safety Management System”, which began in October 2006, the government carries out evaluation of the safety management establishment status. This has been done for a total of 142 companies by the end of March 2008 to ensure the safety of transportation.

## 2 -4 Advancing vehicle safety

## Promotion of vehicle safety measures

Development, implementation and growth of advanced safety vehicles (ASV) that support safe driving are promoted by using advanced technology. In order to do that, the “4th Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) Promotion Program” was started in fiscal year 2006 and the collision safety test was enforced for 15 car models in vehicle assessment. In order to prevent accidents caused by an imperfect service, such as a wheel breaking off accident of the large-sized vehicles or a fire on a bus, efforts have been made to be informed broadly of the points that should be taken care of at the check and maintenance, which involves the regulation contents of the Revised Motor Vehicle Checking Standard in force from the fiscal year 2007.

Because automakers’ wrongdoing relating to recall activities came to light, preventive measures were drawn out in fiscal year 2004. The government has reinforced its activities including gathering information about automobile defects, auditing automakers’ activities and systems relating to defective vehicles, and the government’s systems for technical validation. Preventive measures were enforced steadily in fiscal year 2007.

## 2 -5 Improving rescue and emergency medical systems

## Promotion of the doctor helicopter

Regarding the Doctor Helicopter (helicopter with doctors on board for emergency) Project, which is intended to carry out Early treatment and to transport patients quickly and to promote the enhancement of medical care in the emergency site and on the way to a hospital, by the end of fiscal year 2007, these helicopters have been deployed in the medical emergency centers of 13 prefectures. While implementing this operation, coordinated efforts by related authorities and organizations were made to share information on the section or place for safe landing of the doctor helicopter and to create the "Operation Manual", and introduce the radio with the same frequency.