Japan launches Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign

Various regions across Japan are holding kickoff ceremonies ahead of the Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign, scheduled to run from September 21 to September 30. Police and fire departments are conducting drills and public awareness events to reduce traffic fatalities.

In Tokyo's Shibuya district, emergency services held joint training sessions involving taxi drivers to practice using AEDs and fire extinguishers. In Fukushima, an event at a velodrome focused on bicycle traffic rules and the new “blue ticket” system for cycling violations. In Niigata, authorities emphasized the importance of turning on headlights early due to earlier sunsets and noted the recent reduction of speed limits on residential roads to 30 km/h.

In Kochi, officials reported that traffic fatalities have reached a ten-year high, with the prefecture ranking worst in the nation per 100,000 population. A significant portion of these deaths involve elderly pedestrians. In Mie Prefecture, local police and kindergarteners participated in ceremonies to promote pedestrian safety and the use of reflective materials.