persons who do not hold driver’s licenses or are not members of social clubs. These programs included instructional visits by members of local public organizations to the residences of elderly persons living along roads with a high incidence of traffic accidents, and traffic accident prevention advice given through doctors and other professionals.

The national and local governments have taken steps to have greater traffic safety awareness cultivated among the elderly through their mutual efforts. The governments promoted creation of traffic safety committees within social clubs for senior citizens and aged people's homes, and actively promoted the training of senior citizens in order to have them serve as traffic safety instructors (“Silver Leaders”). They have also provided social clubs for senior citizens with guidance and support on taking traffic safety initiatives, such as creating maps of traffic “nearmiss spots” (Hiyari map) in cooperation with relevant organizations, organizing skills training sessions for elderly drivers, and providing instruction on the safe use of electric wheel chairs, which has recently spread among senior citizens. A particularly noteworthy effort in this direction is a “Citizens’ Participation-style Project to Promote Traffic Safety Study by Elderly People.” This project aims to train “Silver Leaders” who can work continuously to promote participation-, experience- and practice-oriented traffic safety education for the elderly.

Moreover, in order that proper advice can be given to the elderly at their homes, the national and local governments promoted Traffic Safety Mothers activities, programs for traffic safety awareness-raising through cross-generation interaction, and similar efforts.

### 5. Thorough instruction in correct use of seat belts and child safety seats

Efforts were made to disseminate information and provide instruction regarding the benefits of seat belts and their correct usage through various traffic safety seminars, Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaigns, and other such opportunities.

Furthermore, as child safety seats are frequently found to be improperly fastened, activities for promoting the use of child safety seats were conducted in conjunction with the spring and fall Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaigns, and workshops on their correct installation were held at obstetrics and gynecology clinics, kindergartens and nursery schools, and other venues.

### 6. Enhancement of driver’s education

Based on the implementation of the revised Road Traffic Law in June 2002 and other legal changes, systems were established at specified driving schools for providing the education and skill certification needed for acquiring large and general Class 2 vehicle driver's licenses (for buses and other commercial passenger vehicles), so as to increase the opportunities for obtaining driver's licenses. At the same time, the schools were charged with the responsibility of providing education in first-aid techniques and other secondary skills in order to raise the quality of Class 2 vehicle driver's license holders.

In addition, education given at license renewal was divided into separate instruction for model drivers, average drivers, drivers who committed traffic violations, and drivers renewing their license for the first time. Also, the minimum age for elderly driver education at license renewal was lowered from 75 to 70.

### 10 Volume 1. Land Transport