1. Traffic Guidance and Regulation

## (1) Strengthening Measures against Vicious, Dangerous, and Troublesome Driving

The police are advancing traffic guidance and control activities with mobility in the streets, working to prevent violations, and focusing their law enforcement activities on vicious, dangerous and troublesome driving such as driving without a license, driving while intoxicated, excessive speeding and ignoring traffic lights, etc., which directly leads to traffic accidents and for which regulations is highly requested by residents for their annoyance.

In 2009, the police crackdowns accounted for 8,345,760 cases of violations of the Road Traffic Act.

Diagram 3-22 Situation of Crackdowns on the Road

Traffic Act Violations (2009)

## (2) Pursuing Employer Responsibility

When enforcing regulations on driving under extreme fatigue, overloading, illegal parking, speeding, and other violations committed with vehicles used for a commercial purpose, as well as traffic accidents resulting from these violations, the police not only prosecute the driver, but also give the employer instructions or orders for the restricted use of the vehicle. Employers who have ordered or approved these violations $ ^{1} $ are arrested and their involvement and responsibility are pursued.

Moreover, violations of regulations such as the Road Traffic Act committed by the drivers of vehicles used for commercial purposes such as taxi and trucking services are reported to the Transport Bureau and the necessary administrative sanctions are advocated, in order to prevent accidents involving commercial vehicles.

Furthermore, the police are also enforcing regulations on crimes by companies which threaten traffic safety such as illegal vehicle remodeling by automobile manufacturers.

Note 1: Includes users, safe driving supervisors and other persons who directly manage the operation/driving of the vehicles.

### 2. Comprehensive Measures against Motorcycle Gangs (Bosozoku)

## (1) Status and Trends in Bosozku Members

Although both the number of Bosozku members and the number of emergency 110 calls to the police related to Bosozku members have decreased compared with the previous year, the public's demand for the improvement of measures against Bosozoku members remains strong.

There are two types of Bosozoku members: enthusiasts (who recklessly drive through the streets in groups making loud noises) and illegal racers (whose members compete in illegal driving skills such as rolling and drifting). As shown in Diagram 3-25, the illegal racers account for about 12.7% of the total and the most of Bosozoku members are categorized as enthusiasts. Moreover, up until now the majority of Bosozoku members consisted of minors but the ratio of adults has increased in the past few years to the point that they have now become the majority.

In addition, the Kyushakai was also formed, mainly composed of former and current Bosozoku members who amass old two-wheel motor vehicles refurbished in Bosozoku style and travel in large groups. They have been spotted traveling towards scenic areas and in a number of other areas.

Bosozoku members commit a wide range of crimes, from violating road traffic related regulations to Penal Code violations and drug abuse. There have been a number of cases of rivalry conflict between Bosozoku members and cases of attempted murder for citizens. Furthermore, some of these groups have been confirmed to be potential Boryokudan (yakuza syndicate) members.