In addition to implementing education and training for the staff giving support, creating an operation manual, network building with other relevant organizations, and drafting the public transportation operator victim support plan creation guideline, the functions of the Support Office will be improved with the advice of stakeholders and steadfastly further initiatives to support the victims of public transport accidents.

## Safety Measures for Road Traffic

The number of traffic accident fatalities in 2012 was 4,411 people (a 5.4% decline from the previous year) after 12 years of continuous decline. However, roughly half of the traffic accident fatalities are the elderly who are 65 years old or older and the situation is still severe with 830,000 people killed or injured by traffic accidents. For this reason, efforts will be made to further reduce traffic accidents and various measures will be implemented in coordination with the National Police Agency and others.

Graphic II-7-4-5 Traffic Accident Cases and Casualty Trends

(Note) 1 Up until 1959, minor damage accidents (injuries lasting less than 8 days or less than 20,000 yen in property damage) are not included.

2 After 1966 property damage accidents are not included.

3 The cases prior to 1971 do not include fatalities and casualties of Okinawa Prefecture.

Source) Developed by the MLIT from: National Police Agency documents

## (1) Promoting Efficient and Effective Traffic Accident Measures

In light of the advances in road development and changes in the social landscape of recent years, a road environment where pedestrians, bicycles, and a diverse array of users can safely and comfortably coexist is needed. For arterial roads that account for roughly 70% of traffic accident fatalities, effective and efficient accident measures are being promoted through public participation and collaboration under the “Traffic Accident ZERO Plan (strategy for concentrated relief of accident prone sections)” to implement concentrated measures for areas with a high degree of danger for accidents.

In addition, for community roads where the proportion of accident casualties involving pedestrians and bicycles is high, for the purpose of ensuring safe pedestrian spaces, wide-ranging and integrated traffic accident suppression measures are being promoted such as broad speed regulations combined with narrowing the road, widening the road shoulder, developing the sidewalk, suppressing vehicle speeds, and suppressing through traffic.

## (2) Safety Driving Support on Expressways Using the ITS Spot Service

The ITS Spot Service available on all domestic expressways since August 2011 promotes the support of safe driving by calling attention to accident prone areas or falling objects as well as forewarning of snow and overtopping wave conditions.

## (3) Systematic Road Facilities Management to Provide Safe and Comfortable Road Services

On December 2, 2012, nine precious lives were lost when the Chuo Expressway Sasebo Tunnel ceiling panel collapse accident occurred. In response to this accident, the “Research and Investigation Committee on the Tunnel Ceiling Collapse Accident” was held to investigate the cause of the accident and evaluate measures to prevent a reoccurrence from a specialist perspective.

Also, in the future, it is feared that the danger of serious damages occurring may increase on aging road stock such as