## Safety measures for road traffic

In 1970, the number of traffic accident fatalities peaked at 16,000. This figure declined to a quarter of this level, or 4,117 fatalities, (an increase of 4 over the preceding year) in 2015 but then rose for the first time in fifteen years. Elderly persons account for a majority of traffic accident fatalities. Approximately half, or 2,160 fatalities, were killed while walking or riding a bicycle. With half of these incidents taking place within 500 meters of each victim's home, the situation remains grim. 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.

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

By promoting the functional differentiation of roads, we will divert automobile traffic to highly safe expressways. Through measures applicable to accident-prone “black spots” and “zero-traffic accident plans” (tactics for the priority elimination of accidents at black spots) carried out in collaboration with prefectural public safety commissions, we are effectively and efficiently promoting accident measures in order to further improve the safety of arterial roads, which account for approximately sixty percent of traffic accident fatalities.

With respect to residential streets, which account for a significant percentage of fatal and injury accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, standard specifications for speed bumps, curb extensions, and other measures shall be formulated to secure safe walking spaces by restricting the flow of vehicular traffic and forcing a reduction in vehicular speeds. Comprehensive measures to inhibit traffic accidents are being advanced in collaboration with prefectural public safety commissions, such as by decreasing the width of vehicular roads and widening roadside strips in combination with zonal speed limits, engaging in sidewalk development projects, and carrying out measures to install speed bumps.

## (2) Promoting Safety Measures for School Commute Routes

For school-commuting roads, following a series of accidents in April, 2012 involving groups of children commuting to schools, a “school route emergency joint inspection program” was implemented and included coordination among schools, boards of education, police, and other stakeholders. Intensive support was directed toward the measures based on the results above.

In addition, Japan has instituted a “school-commuting roads safety program” in each municipality to ensure the sustained safety of school-commuting roads, and has implemented regular joint inspections and improved and enhanced other measures as well.

## (3) Safety Driving Support on Expressways Using IT

Japan is the first country in the world that commenced the ETC2.0 service, which utilizes communication spots on expressways installed across the country and onboard units. Safe driving support is promoted by providing alerts on locations where accidents occur frequently and on objects that have fallen onto the road as well as information on snow accumulations, overtopping waves, and other such circumstances to the vehicle's car-navigation system. The use of information technology and effective measures based on partnerships with automobile manufacturers and other private-