Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
3. Taking measures to prevent reoccurrence of accidents, utilizing the lessons of the Eidan Hibiya line accident ..... 16
4. Measures to prevent railway-crossing accidents ..... 17

Volume 2. Maritime Transport
Chapter 1. Trends in Maritime Accidents and Future Directions in Traffic Safety Measures ..... 18
Trends in Maritime Accidents ..... 18
Future directions in maritime traffic safety measures ..... 18
1. Improvement of maritime traffic safety in congested seaways ..... 18
2. Promotion of safety measures for pleasure boats ..... 18
3. Promoting safety measures for fishing boats ..... 20
4. Promoting increased use of life jackets and improving rescue systems ..... 20
5. Improvement of supervision for foreign vessels ..... 20
Chapter 2. Major Maritime Traffic Safety Measures ..... 20

Volume 3. Air Transport
Chapter 1. Trends in Aviation Accidents and Future Directions in Traffic Safety Measures ..... 22
Trends in Aviation Accidents ..... 22
Future directions in air traffic safety measures ..... 22
1. Promoting safety measures based on analysis of serious incidents ..... 22
2. Improving the safety of foreign aircraft ..... 22
3. The next-generation air navigation system ..... 22
Chapter 2. Major Air Traffic Safety Measures ..... 23
### Part 1. Road Transport

# Chapter 1. Trends in Road Traffic Accidents and Future Directions in Traffic Safety Measures

## Long-term trends in road traffic accidents

The annual number of fatalities resulting from road traffic accidents in Japan peaked in 1970 at 16,765. To address concerns about the alarming death toll on the nation’s roads, the Traffic Safety Policies Law was enacted in that same year. Based on the new law, in FY1971 the government began drawing up five-year plans, known as Fundamental Traffic Safety Programs, to systematically promote traffic safety improvements.

From 1971, annual road traffic fatalities fell steadily, down to 8,466 by 1979. However, it began to rise in the following year, exceeding 9,000 yearly in the 1982-1987 period, followed by eight consecutive years of over 10,000 deaths. In 1995 total road fatalities started to fall, dipping below 10,000 in 1996.

## Road traffic accidents in 2000

### 1. Overview

In 2000 a total of 931,934 road traffic accidents occurred in Japan, resulting in a total of 1,164,763 casualties, including 9,066 fatalities.

Road deaths in 2000, though they were held below 10,000 for the fourth consecutive year, represented the first year-on-year rise in five years. In addition, 2000 was the eighth straight year to mark a new high in the total number of road accidents, and the third straight year to mark a new high in total road accident casualties. (See Fig. 1)

### 2. Traffic accident fatalities and injuries by age group

The year 2000 was the eighth straight year in which the elderly (people over 65), with 3,166 deaths or 34.9% of total, accounted for more road fatalities than any other age group. Next highest was the age group of 16 to 24 (1,563 deaths, 17.2% of the total). Together, these two age groups shared 52.1% of all traffic fatalities. (See Fig. 2)

Young people (16 to 24) also suffered 23.1% (266,728) of all road injuries — more than any other age group. The number of people injured in traffic accidents was higher than the previous year for all age groups.

### 3. Traffic accident fatalities and injuries by road user type

Statistics show that motor vehicle occupants (drivers and passengers), with 3,953 deaths or 43.6% of total, accounted for more road fatalities than any other type of road users.

Motor vehicle occupants also topped the list of injuries by road user type (708,645, 61.3% of total).
Figure 1 Changes in Road Traffic Accidents, Casualties and Fatalities

2. Figures after 1966 do not include property-damage-only accidents.

3. Figures for Okinawa Prefecture were not included before 1971.

Figure 2 Changes in Traffic Accident Fatalities by Age Group

Notes: 1. Source: National Police Agency

2. Figures in brackets show percentage (\%) of fatalities by age group.
Figure 3 Changes in Fatality Rates among Motor Vehicle Occupants in Traffic Accidents by Seat Belt Use, and Changes in Proportion of Motor Vehicle Occupant Casualties Wearing Seat Belts in Accidents

### 4. Traffic accident fatalities by seat belt use

Out of all motor vehicle occupants killed or injured in road traffic accidents, the proportion wearing seat belts (ratio of seat belt-wearing casualties to total casualties) has been increasing steadily since 1993, reaching 84.1% in 2000.

The fatality rate (ratio of fatalities to total casualties) for seat belt wearers was approximately nine times lower than that for people not wearing belts. (See Fig. 3)

## Future directions in road traffic safety measures

### 1. Likely developments in the environment of road traffic

The environment of road traffic is likely to worsen over the coming years. Some of the reasons for this are given below.

1) The total number of driving license holders is increasing year by year in Japan, reaching 74.69 million as of the end of December 2000. This corresponds to one out of every 1.4 citizens eligible for a license. It is estimated that the number of driving license holders in 2005 will be 81.22 million, of which 10.88 million will be elderly (over 65).

2) Registered motor vehicles numbered 75.86 million units in 2000. Notably, the number of passenger vehicles has increased rapidly to reach 42.54 million units in 2000.

3) Motor vehicle kilometers traveled has been rising steadily for decades, except for a temporary fall in 1974 in the wake of the oil crisis. The total for 1998 was about 613.9 billion kilometers.

4) In view of the rapid aging of Japan’s population, more and more elderly people will be
Figure 4 Projections of Traffic Accident Fatalities

Note: Source: Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis

driving on the nation’s roads in the coming years. The proportion of the elderly (over 65) in the total population is expected to reach 19.6% in 2005.

### 2. Road traffic accident projections

Based on “Research on Long-term Projections of Traffic Accidents and Development of Effective Traffic Safety Plans” and other resources, the following projections have been made on the number of road accident fatalities in the coming years.

1) Based on traffic accident figures up to 1998 and on the assumption that no new safety measures are introduced, total annual road traffic accident fatalities are forecast to be between 9,000 and 10,800 in 2005. (See Fig. 4)

2) Based on traffic accident fatality figures for 1999 and 2000, it is very likely that total annual fatalities will remain high over the coming years.

3) The numbers of fatalities in the over-75 and 25-64 age groups are expected to increase significantly.

4) In terms of road user type, motor vehicle occupants are expected to continue accounting for the highest number of fatalities in the years ahead. Fatalities for pedestrians and bicycle users are also expected to increase.

### 3. Future directions in road traffic safety measures

Since the road traffic environment is expected to become increasingly hazardous over the coming years, there is a fear that the incidence of traffic accidents will rise. To address this concern, the government organized a meeting of the Central Traffic Safety Policy Council on March 16, 2001. The council produced the Seventh Fundamental Traffic Safety Program, which
stations and public facilities: constructing wide, flat pedestrian walkways; installing traffic lights sensitive to pedestrians including the elderly; making roadside signs brighter, larger, and variable; and making road surface signs brighter.

Also, based on the Transportation Accessibility Improvement Law (“Barrier-Free” Law), and in line with the general trend towards “barrier-free” public transport, the program calls for the construction of wide, easy-to-use pedestrian walkways in a wide area as part of a network of roadways in that area.

## c) Measures to promote safer driving by elderly drivers

The program calls for the provision of appropriate guidance to the elderly, based on understanding the effect of aging on physical functions. This will be done by trying to improve the content of general lectures and classes for the elderly, by expanding the classes provided to elderly people when they renew their driving licenses (focusing on driving issues for the elderly and the characteristics of traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers.)

## (2) Promoting use of seat belts and child seats

The program calls for the promotion of greater public understanding of the importance of using seat belts and child safety seats, and to implement educational activities to ensure that people use these safety devices properly. In addition, the program calls for the national government to actively carry out publicity and educational activities to promote the use of seat belts for rear-seat passengers, making use of all available opportunities and media, in cooperation with local governments, relevant bodies and organizations. The governments must also work to improve guidance and control measures for people who violate mandatory belt-use or child seat-use regulations. Also, particularly for child seats, the program aims to develop instructors for educating the public about how to use child seats properly, and take measures to make them easier to use.

## (3) Making road traffic facilities safer and smoother

Under the program, detailed analyses are made of accidents that have occurred in areas where accidents have been repeated and thus countermeasures have to be taken urgently. Based on the analysis results, steps will be taken to improve the visibility and safety of intersections, add lanes to roads, among others. After implementing such improvements, the governments should evaluate their effectiveness and then undertake further measures to correct any remaining deficiencies.

Furthermore, the program will create community zones, to promote research and development into the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), and to promote Traffic Demand Management (TDM) measures to increase transport efficiency and balance traffic flow across time and space.

## (4) Promotion of traffic safety education

Making use of the Traffic Safety Education Policy and other resources, the national government, local governments, police, schools, relevant private organizations and citizens
should cooperate to implement staged and systematic traffic safety education for children and adults, as well as appropriate traffic safety training for the elderly and the disabled. These efforts will focus particularly on training and cultivating instructors, and promoting participation-, experience- and practice-oriented education activities. In addition, the program calls for improvements to the education provided to drivers before and after obtaining a license, as well as during license testing.

## (5) Ensuring vehicle safety

In order to develop and spread Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) technology, the program calls for promotion of the Motor Vehicle Assessment Project and for improvements to vehicle recall procedures.

## (6) More effective traffic guidance and control

The program calls for the promotion of more accurate evaluation and analysis of traffic accidents and stricter traffic guidance and control, focusing on malicious, dangerous and annoying traffic violations, since these are the most likely to cause fatal and serious accidents. In addition, the program calls for improved initial and scientific investigations.

Also, to prevent the increasingly serious problem of flagrant traffic violations by hot-rodders, the program recommends that all relevant bodies and organizations cooperate to implement tougher measures to deal with the problem. These include cultivating a greater resolve among citizens to eliminate, and create an environment against, reckless and annoying driving in their communities, and improving guidance for youths in schools and in the home. Furthermore, the program calls for stricter guidance and control of recklessly driving gangs, to prevent repeat offences by their members, and to keep illegally modified vehicles off the roads.

## (7) Improvement of rescue and first-aid systems

The program calls for increased training and deployment of emergency life-saving technicians and greater use of medical service vehicles. In addition, it proposes the deployment of the helicopters that are normally used in fire fighting or disaster emergency work for use in traffic accident rescues; the utilization of medical service helicopters for emergency medical care; and the provision of heliports in expressway service areas for landing helicopters in emergencies.

## (8) Improving measures for accident victims

The program calls for better financial support for the nursing care expenses incurred by people suffering from serious disabilities resulting from traffic accidents, and improved support for the establishment and management of facilities specializing in treatment and nursing of accident victims. In addition, the program calls for the promotion of services to provide compassionate counselling to traffic accident victims, by traffic counsellors and the Traffic Safety Activities Promotion Center of the police, and by victim support officers at the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

On top of this, the program will ensure that victims be provided with information about their
traffic accidents, such as an outline of how the accident occurred, progress reports on any investigation and action taken, and details of any non-indictments. The program also urges improved victim liaison procedures, more effort to provide the families of the victims of hit-and-run accidents and fatal accidents with information on the arrest of suspects, reports of any criminal charges that are laid, and with information on the results of any prosecutions.

## (9) Improving traffic accident investigation and analysis

To improve the quality of accident investigations and analysis, the program recommends the reinforcement and utilization of the resources of the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis, and the widespread publication of traffic accident investigation and analysis results held by governments and private-sector organizations.

## (10) Promoting traffic safety activities with public participation

The program calls for encouragement of greater participation by citizens in traffic safety activities, through involvement in traffic safety policy formulation, from the planning stage through to final implementation; by creating maps of traffic “near-miss spots” (“Hiyari” Map) in local areas based on information provided by local residents and road users; and by implementing comprehensive traffic safety checks.

### Chapter 2. Major Road Traffic Safety Measures

### 1. Selective development of traffic safety facilities

The following projects were implemented during FY2000, the fifth year of the Seven-Year Program for Provision of Traffic Safety Facilities.

1) Widening sidewalks; creating community zones in residential areas; upgrading traffic signals to make them sensitive to elderly pedestrians; and installing more road lights and road signs.

2) In order to prevent traffic accidents on school routes, improvements were made to sidewalks, traffic signals, aboveground and underground pedestrian crossings and road signs.

3) The causes of accidents occurring at “black spots” on arterial roads were analyzed. Measures to prevent accidents were then formulated and implemented based on the analysis. These included improving intersections, installing road lights and traffic lights, and reviewing traffic regulations.

4) To help prevent vehicle accidents, traffic lights were upgraded to take advantage of cutting-edge technology, intersections were improved and more traffic lanes were added to roadways. In addition, to prevent nighttime traffic accidents, speed restriction systems and more road lights were installed.
5) As part of the Universal Traffic Management Systems (UTMS), the operation of traffic management systems was upgraded or enhanced, through measures such as improving central control systems and traffic information relay equipment.

### 2. Improving road traffic systems using advanced telecommunications technology

Extensive research and development, field-testing and infrastructure work is currently underway in accordance with the comprehensive ITS (Intelligent Transport System) plan drawn up in 1996.

### 3. Promoting Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

The national and local governments have been comprehensively promoting Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures to improve transport efficiency and level out traffic demand across time and space.

Steps have been taken also to promote increased traffic capacity, as well as multi-modal and TDM measures.

Another current initiative, involving relevant government ministries and agencies, is the Omnibus Town Project, a comprehensive set of measures to make more effective utilization of bus services.

### 4. Expanding systems for promoting the development of safe road traffic environments

The government has proposed some basic ideas on future safety improvements to road traffic environments in the form of its “Policy for Promotion of Road Traffic Environment Safety Improvements.” The government is promoting a variety of measures based on this policy, including a project to create community zones, urgent measures to deal with traffic “black spots.”

### 5. Promoting more widespread use of child safety seats

In April 2000, it became mandatory for children under the age of six to use child safety seats or Child Restraint System (CRS) in vehicles. In line with this, the government has been conducting campaigns to promote increased use of CRS during the Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaigns held in spring and fall. The government has also promoted the use of child restraints through various support measures, such as a system for lending them out free of charge.

### 6. Implementation of regional traffic safety checks

Traffic safety inspections have been conducted with the voluntarily participation of local citizens and road users. The results of such inspections have prompted measures such as sidewalk repairs and installation of traffic signals.

### 7. Promotion of vehicle safety measures

The Vehicle Safety Measures Review Council has developed long-term plans for vehicle safety measures after examining preliminary studies on the effectiveness of such measures and their ex post facto evaluations.
### 8. Providing information on motor vehicle assessments

The motor vehicle assessment project releases the results of comparative safety performance tests of motor vehicles, such as collision tests. An oblique, head-on crash test has now been added, and the project has published the results of comparison tests of 24 vehicle types. In addition, the project provided consumers with information on how to properly use safety devices such as air bags.

### 9. Promoting measures with greater consideration for the feelings of traffic accident victims

Efforts are now made to provide the families of victims of hit-and-run accidents and fatal traffic accidents with timely and appropriate information, such as outlines of how accidents occurred and reports on the progress of investigations. Other measures to give more consideration to the feelings of accident victims and their families have been implemented, including the distribution of “Guidelines for Traffic Accident Victims” and the provision of various counselling services.
Part 2. Railway Transport

### Chapter 1. Trends in Railway Traffic Accidents and Future Directions in Traffic Safety Measures

## State of railway accidents

The long-term decline in the number of railway accidents continues, as a result of the implementation of a comprehensive safety strategy involving measures to prevent railway-crossing accidents, installation and upgrading of operational safety systems, improvements to control equipment, and higher training standards for crews. In 2000, a total of 936 railway accidents occurred, resulting in 749 casualties (309 fatalities). (See Fig. 5)

Looking at accidents by type, 47.4% involved obstruction on railway-crossings, 37.3% involved human obstruction and 11.3% involved obstruction on roadways.

## Future directions in railway traffic safety measures

### 1. Improving accident investigation systems

To provide safer railway transport services, it is vital to prevent the recurrence of accidents, by learning and applying the lessons from past accidents and implementing effective policies that deal with the relevant problems. With the aim of improving systems to investigate and analyze

Figure 5 Changes in Railway Accidents and Casualties

Notes: 1. Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

2. Fatalities are defined as deaths occurring within 24 hours of the accident.
railway accidents, a permanent body will be established to investigate railway accidents and to promote improved systems for carrying out necessary accident investigations.

Also, the 151st National Diet enacted a revision to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee Establishment Law, in order to reorganize the Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee as the new Aircraft and Railway Accident Investigation Committee.

### 2. Promoting accident prevention systems

The governments will review the accident reporting system used by railway transport companies in order to revise such details as the content of accident reports and the listing of offices to receive preliminary reports. They will also work to improve analysis of serious incidents. In this way, they will promote measures aimed at more effective prevention of accidents.

Furthermore, the governments will actively promote the disclosure of information about accidents.

### 3. Promoting measures to prevent railway-crossing accidents

Based on the Railway-Crossing Improvement Promotion Law, which was revised in March 2001, and the Seventh Comprehensive Crossing Accident Prevention Measures, which takes effect in FY2001, a set of measures will be introduced collectively and actively to achieve safe and smooth traffic flows at roads intersecting railway lines. The measures will include constructing overpasses and underpasses, promoting structural improvements, installing new safety equipment, conducting traffic controls, and promoting mergers and eliminations of crossings.

### Chapter 2. Major Railway Safety Measures

### 1. Improving track facilities and operational safety equipment

While promoting improvements of railway track facilities and operational safety systems, the government is also working to cultivate more highly skilled railway crews by raising training standards for them. In addition, the government is assisting railway transport companies to develop faster and more accurate operation command systems.

### 2. Improving the earthquake resistance of railway facilities and equipment

The government is assisting railway transport companies to adopt the earthquake resistance design standards put together in November 1998 by the Earthquake-resistant Railway Structures Inspection Committee for the design of new railway infrastructure.

### 3. Taking measures to prevent reoccurrence of accidents, utilizing the lessons of the Eidan Hibiya line accident

After the train derailment and collision that occurred at Naka-Meguro Station on the Eidan