Table 3-5 Situation of Implementation of Education to Reeducate Dangerous Drivers (2009)

Course Names	Target Persons	Contents	Outcome	Number of Participants (persons)
Courses for Novice Drivers	Persons under one year since license acquisition who have violated the law and meet certain standards	This program provides practical instructions through on-road training and training to predict and avoid risks using driving simulators aimed at stabilizing driving techniques and knowledge.	Re-examination exempted (Note)	56,655
Courses for those with Revoked Licenses	Persons whose licenses have been revoked or cancelled	In order to make the participants recognize their aptitude for driving and improve their driving attitude, examinations are conducted regarding driving aptitude by having them drive and then provide individual and concrete instructions based on the results.	The persons become qualified for taking driving license examination again.	33,631
Courses for Suspended Drivers	Persons whose licenses are suspended or validities are terminated.	Appropriate guidance is given on a request basis by persons who have been penalized as well as based on the results of driving aptitude tests conducted by having them drive.	The period of suspension is reduced.	438,029
Courses for Offenders	Persons whose violations amount to less than three points and meet certain standards	It is possible to select a course which includes guidance and diagnosis to check individual driving aptitude by actually driving or a course which includes social participation activities which help to improve qualities in the driver.	An administrative punishment such as suspension of driver's license is not performed.	185,411

Note: Re-examinations are held for those who did not attend the courses for novice drivers and the criteria is the same as those for the driver's license examination. In 2009,

2,905 candidates took the examination and the driver's licenses of 2,156 candidates who failed in the examination were revoked.

## 3 ) Traffic Safety Education at Driving Schools

Driving schools also offer traffic safety education for license holders, including so-called “paper driver’s education,” and act as a traffic safety education center in the community. In order to raise the standard and the extent of training, accreditation may be received from Prefectural Public Safety Commissions when prescribed standards are met.

## (4) Enhanced Measures for Senior Drivers 1) Education for Senior Drivers

Based on the introduction of preliminary training (cognitive impairment screening test) in June 2009, the police enriched the contents of lectures for senior drivers. (Refer to P.37)

Besides courses for senior drivers, the police are composing classes for senior drivers who are 65 years old or above and 70 years old or below, giving prioritized explanation on driving attributes of senior drivers, or characteristics of traffic accidents. In addition, driving aptitude examinations using related equipment are being conducted. By implementing traffic safety guidance based on the results of these examinations, the police are striving for continuous support of the safe driving of senior drivers. The number of persons who took the course for senior drivers was 45,105 in 2009.

## 2 ) Application to Cancel a Driver’s License (The Voluntary Turning-in of a Driver’s License)

License holders may apply to cancel and turn in their driver’s license if the degradation of their physical abilities prevents them from driving a vehicle or if they decide they wish to stop driving. Additionally, in the event that the license is to be turned in, the applicants may apply to receive proof of their driving history. In 2009, 51,086 people applied to cancel their driver’s license (44,463 of these were over 70 years old), and 23,048 applied for records of their driving history (20,321 of these were over 70 years old).

### 2. Policies for Drivers

## (1) Administrative Punishment and Education Tailored to Degree of Negligence

It is necessary to implement appropriate administrative punishment for the early removal from road traffic areas of drivers who repeat Road Traffic Act violations and who have initiated major traffic accidents.

In June 2009, the police raised the amount of time required before a potential driver can reapply for a license to 10 years after their license has been revoked due to certain vicious and reckless driving. Based on this, the police are attempting to implement rigorous and prompt administrative punishment, toward the early removal of drivers who conduct vicious and reckless driving.

Table 3-6 Trends in Administrative Punishment for Driver’s Licenses (2005-2009)

Year Category	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Total (cases)	911,001	847,721	728,060	612,163	571,912
Revoked	55,138	54,461	44,252	34,942	38,100
Suspended	855,863	793,260	683,808	577,221	533,812

Note: Number of cases of revocation does not include the number of revocations related to retesting of driving beginners and revocations resulting from application.