Japan reports serious traffic accidents involving elderly driver and cyclist

A 76‑year‑old woman driving a small car crashed into a showroom in New Miyama, Fukuoka Prefecture, on June 20, 2026. The vehicle broke through a glass wall, injuring a woman in her 60s with minor foot and ear injuries. Police said the driver mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while trying to park. The incident added to a rise in senior‑driver crashes in the prefecture, which recorded 1,824 such accidents in the first half of the year, up 22 cases from the previous year.

On June 28, 2026, a 44‑year‑old woman riding a bicycle was struck by a taxi in central Kagoshima city. She suffered a severe head injury and was taken to hospital in an unconscious, critical condition. Police are investigating the circumstances of the collision, including the cyclist’s exact crossing point, and have questioned the 55‑year‑old taxi driver.

Both accidents highlight ongoing concerns about road safety for vulnerable users and older drivers in Japan.