Identifying focal points to prevent traffic accidents in Japan and specific measures proposed: Aspects common to Japan and South Korea and suggested preventive measures

Traffic accidents are one of the eternal problems around the world.^1,2 The annual numbers of traffic-accident fatalities in Japan were ∼4000 in the years 2009–2015, ∼3000 in 2016–2019, and ∼2000 in 2020–2023. ³ To further decrease the number of traffic-accident fatalities in Japan, specific measures are necessary to deal with these high numbers; we also speculated that effective measures to prevent traffic accidents in countries that are similar to Japan or have similar circumstances should be ascertained, and the incidence of traffic-accident fatalities in other countries should be compared with that of Japan. We conducted a study to compare the percentage of fatalities during 30-day periods in Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, and the US in 2021 (2020 for the US) by using a report from Japan's National Police Agency ⁴ based on data from the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD) as of January 23, 2023. We categorized traffic-accident fatalities as “while walking,” “while riding a bicycle,” “while driving or riding a motorcycle,” “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle,” “other,” and “unknown.” Our analyses of the results identified important focal points regarding the prevention of future traffic accidents in Japan, and we propose specific measures toward this goal. We also identified effective and relevant preventive measures that are used in countries with circumstances that are similar to those of Japan and propose suggestions for effective measures and measures to consider in Japan.

The IRTAD data revealed that in Japan, the greatest portion of traffic-accident fatalities occurred to individuals “while walking” (35.4%), followed by “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle” (21.8%). In South Korea, the majority of these fatalities were also in the “while walking” category (34.9%), followed by “while driving or riding a motorcycle” (22.9%). The traffic-accident fatalities in France occurred most frequently “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle” (48.0%), followed by “while driving or riding a motorcycle” (22.7%). Similarly, “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle” (43.6%) accounted for the highest percentage of traffic-accident fatalities in Germany, followed by “while driving or riding a motorcycle” (20.6%). The UK traffic-accident fatalities occurred most frequently “while driving or riding a motorcycle” (43.9%), followed by “while walking” (22.9%). Australia's traffic-accident fatalities occurred most often “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle” (44.9%), and then by “while driving or riding a motorcycle” (21.2%). In the US, 34.7% of such fatalities happened to individuals “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle,” followed by the category “other” (31.0%). In other words, the largest portion of traffic-accident fatalities occurred “while walking” in both Japan and South Korea but “while driving or riding in a car or another vehicle” in France, Germany, the UK, Australia, and the US.

In 2021, the number of traffic-accident fatalities per 100,000 people in a 30-day period was 2.6 in Japan, 5.6 in South Korea, 4.5 in France, 3.1 in Germany, 2.4 in the UK, 4.3 in Australia, and 12.9 in the US. ⁴ Fatalities in Japan were 1/5 of those in the US and fatalities in South Korea were 1/2 of those in the US. Nevertheless, actions to reduce traffic-related fatalities should continue to be implemented. In order to further decrease the number of traffic-accident fatalities in Japan, effective measures to prevent such accidents among pedestrians while they are walking are necessary. Toward that end, the current measures in Japan must be precisely ascertained, and since South Korea's data are similar to those of Japan, measures to prevent traffic-accident fatalities among pedestrians are urgently needed in South Korea. Specific measures are currently being suggested in Japan for both pedestrians and vehicle operators/drivers based on objective data, with a focus on clear precautions for both drivers and pedestrians and educational campaigns to make such precautions well known. For example, specific measures focused on crossing the street in particular have been proposed. ⁵ A district in South Korea has installed a system that both alerts pedestrians at crosswalks and encourages drivers to slow down. ⁶ In Seoul, the number of crosswalks with embedded signals has increased recently as a measure to counter smartphone use while walking. ⁷ Japan could look to South Korea's initiatives and innovations to reduce its incidence of pedestrian traffic-accident fatalities. Indeed, both countries have experienced a surge of pedestrians being distracted by their smartphones. Police, government entities on the nationwide, regional and municipal levels, traffic-related associations, and medical societies should engage in concerted efforts to prevent traffic accidents and conduct educational campaigns for the public, and all of these parties should work together to engage in these efforts when necessary.