Traffic accident trends rise in Japan and Venezuela

In Japan, the National Police Agency reported a 21% increase in serious traffic accidents involving foreign drivers during the first half of 2026. Between January and June, there were 323 incidents resulting in death or serious injury, compared to 267 during the same period in 2025. While serious accidents rose, fatalities involving foreign drivers decreased from 22 to 18, indicating the increase is primarily driven by non-fatal serious injuries.

In Venezuela, the Road Safety Observatory (OSV) reported that 71 pedestrians were killed and 92 were injured in vehicle strikes during the first six months of 2026. The OSV noted that children and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups. The highest number of fatalities occurred in May, with 15 deaths. The organization cited a lack of protective infrastructure, poor signaling, and a disregard for pedestrian zones as contributing factors to these figures.