Skip to main content

Continued improvement in Japan’s road safety

Improved road safety in Japan has been revealed, following the release of the latest official statistics. During 2016 there were 3,904 road deaths in Japan, a drop of 213 from the previous year. The data is significant as this is the lowest level of recorded road fatalities for 67 years and the first time in this period that road deaths have dropped below 4,000. The reasons for Japan’s improved road safety are thought to include better road design, safer vehicles and gains in traffic safety education measur
January 5, 2017 Read time: 1 min
Improved road safety in Japan has been revealed, following the release of the latest official statistics. During 2016 there were 3,904 road deaths in Japan, a drop of 213 from the previous year. The data is significant as this is the lowest level of recorded road fatalities for 67 years and the first time in this period that road deaths have dropped below 4,000. The reasons for Japan’s improved road safety are thought to include better road design, safer vehicles and gains in traffic safety education measures. The gains in road safety are expected to continue in future years and the target by the Japanese Government is to cut road deaths to 2,500/year or lower by 2020.

Related Content

  • Denmark’s road safety continues to improve
    February 2, 2016
    The latest data from the Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) reveals that the country’s road safety continues to improve. The figures for 2015 reveal that road fatality levels have been reduced further. The data shows that in 2015 just 167 people were killed on the country’s roads, a further reduction from previous years. The number seriously injured or killed during December 2015 fell to 289, the second lowest figure for the past 10 years. The Danish Road Directorate predicts that safety measures are
  • Europe's road safety gain
    February 28, 2012
    New data shows an improvement in Europe's road safety during 2010.
  • Road safety improving, but vulnerable road users need protection
    January 11, 2013
    Preliminary data from France over the number of fatalities on the road network reveal safety improvements during 2012. The numbers killed dropped by 7-8%, although the final figures for December are not yet available. The preliminary figures suggest that around 3,600-3,700 were killed on French roads in 2012, compared with 3,970 in 2011. This reduction is in line with targets on cutting the death rate and Ministry of the Interior wants to bring the fatality rate to just 2,000 by 2020. This reduction has bee
  • US road safety concern
    June 18, 2021
    There is concern over a worrying trend in US road safety