Part 1 Road Transport Chapter 1 Road Traffic Accident Trends I Outline of Present Situation Title 1 Land Transport 1 Long-Term Transition of Road Traffic Accidents Traffic fatalities are reduced in 1 consecutive years. Number of Accidents, Injuries, Fatalities due to Road Traffic Accidents 1,2, 1,183,12 persons (24) 2, Number of traffic accidents Number of injuries 1,, 8, 6, 4, 2, 4,696 persons (1952) 4,429 persons (1951) 981,96 persons (197) 16,765 persons (197) 8,466 persons (1979) 596,282 persons (1979) Number of accidents Number of injuries Number of deaths (within 24 hours) 952,191 cases (24) 896,28 persons (21) 725,773 persons (21) 7,86 persons (29) 5,745 persons (21) 4,863 persons (21) 15, 1, 5, Number of fatalities Number of deaths (within 3 days) Number of deaths (Ministry of Health statistics) 31,274 persons (1951) 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 21 26 21 2: Since the cases of 1966 do not include a property damage accident. And until 1971, it does not include Okinawa Prefecture. 3: "Deceased within 24 hours" means those who was the first prescribed in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act, that is, died within 24 hours due to an accident that was caused by the traffic of trains and vehicles. 4: "Deceased within 3 days" refers to those who died within 3 days from the occurrence of traffic accident. (Including the deceased within 24 hours) 5: "Deceased according to statistics given by the Ministry of Health" is the data created by the National Police Agency that is based on the "vital statistics" that Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare says the underlying cause of deaths due to traffic accidents among those who died in the year. (Except person whos death was a result of the conseqences of the accident or take place more than one year after the accident.) In addition, it has recorded a number of car accidents on the road determined by the year 1994, and since 1995 it differentiates from the person who is thevictim of the traffic accident of land, and the person who is the car accident victim. Trends in number of traffic accident fatalities The worst number of fatalities from traffic accidents, 16,765 persons, has been recorded in 197. The Traffic Safety Measures Basic Law was enacted in 197, a traffic safety plan based on this act is formulated every 5 years since 1971, and traffic safety measures are comprehensively and systematically promoted. In 1979 the number of traffic fatalities was reduced to 8,466 people. After that the number went into an upward trend, but after at the boundary of 1992 started to decrease again. In 21 the number of traffic fatalities was 4,863 people, declining for 1 consecutive years. The worst number of incidents and casualties by traffic accidents has been recorded in 24, and then decreased for the next sixth consecutive years. - 1 -
2 Road Traffic Accident Conditions During 21 Overall Condition and Factors of Decrease in the Number of Fatalities Number of Accidents 725,773cases (Year-on-year Comparison 11,71 cases, 1.6%) Number of Injuries and Fatalities 91,71people (Year-on-year Comparison 14,951 people, 1.6%) Number of Injuries only 896,28 people (Year-on-year Comparison 14,9 people, 1.6%) Number of Fatalities (24 hours) 4,863 people (Year-on-year Comparison 51 people, 5.2%) only (3 days) 5,745 people (Year-on-year Comparison 27 people,.5%) In recent years, the factors behind the drop in the number of fatalities is basically a result of comprehensive promotion of countermeasures based on the Fundamental Traffic Safety Program such as the improvement of the road traffic environment, dissemination and reinforcement of traffic safety messages, ensuring safe driving, ensuring vehicle safety, maintenance of road traffic order, improvement of rescue and ambulance systems. However, primary factors that can be shown quantitatively are (1) the improvement in the rate of seatbelt users, (2) the reduction in high-speed accidents, (3) the reduction in accidents where the level of maliciousness and danger is high (e.g. drunk driving), and (4) the reduction of pedestrians who violate the law. Factor (1) Decline in Fatality Rate Following Improvement in the Rate of Seatbelt Users Transition of Seatbelt User Rate and Fatality Rate (Riding in Auotomobile) (%) (%) 1.7 Difference in the fatality rate (21) Rate of seat belt wearer with seat belt.16% 14 times Rate of fatality without seat belt 2.17%.6 93.3 93.4 Rate of seat belt wearer 9.55 84.1.5 86.4.47 87.2.41 87.5 88.3.39 88.8.38 89.1 89.1.34.31 91.3.29.28.29 8.2 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 2: Rate of seat belt wearer = Casualties with seat belt (ride in car) Number of casualties (ride in car) 1 3: Rate of fatality (ride in car) = Number of fatalities (ride in car) Number of casualties (ride in car) 1.5.4.3 Rate of fatality(ride in car) Factor (2) Reduction in High-Speed Accidents (Decline in car speed directly prior to the accident) Transition of the Number of Traffic Accident Cases (on Normal Roads) and Fatalities by Danger Cognition Rate 12 11 1 9 (2 =1) Less than 5 km / h More than 5 km / h less than 8 km/h More than 8 km / h Number of deaths Index 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Difference in the rate of fatal accidents (21) Below 5km/h.4% Above 5 km/h less than 8 km/h Above 8 km/h 5.% (Increase by 13 times) 28.3% (Increase by 71 times) 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 2: Speed and hazard perception refers to the speed of the vehicle at the time of the other party, person, or property, such as observed in a parked vehicle, car or moped driver was aware of the danger. 3: Fatal accidents rate = Number of fatal accidents Number of traffic accidents 1-2 - 79.4 53.6 44.4 19.6
Factor (3) Decrease in the number of high risk, malicious accidents, such as drunk driving Trends in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities due to violation of maximum speed and driving under the influence of alcohol 12. 1. (2 =1) The number of traffic accidents caused by of drunk driving Number of traffic accidents caused by speeding Number of traffic accidents Number of deaths 8. 77.9 Index 6. 53.6 4. 2. Difference in the rate of fatal accidents (21) Drunk driving 4.8% (7.5 times more than without drinking) Violation of maximum speed 12.1% (19 times more than the average of other violation ) 27.3 23.. 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 Factor (4) Reduction of Pedestrians Violating the Law Transition of the Number of Injuries and Fatalities while Walking and among Violating Pedestrians 11 1 (2 =1) Pedestrian casualties Number of pedestrian casualties due to violation of law Number of pedestrian deaths 9 Index 8 77.4 7 6 Difference in fatality rate (21) Without violation 1.42% With violation 4.67% 67.5 55.4 5 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 2: Number of of pedestrian casualties excepts other party using light vehicles, such as bicycles. 3: Rate of pedestrian fatalitys (with and without violation) = Number of pedestrian fatalitys (with and without violations) Number of pedestrian casualties 1-3 -
Number of Road Fatalities and Injuries by Age Group (1) The number of fatalities is most prominent with elderly persons aged 65 and over (2,45 people) in the past 18 consecutive years, and for the first time the rate comprised more than half of the total number of fatalities. Compared to the previous year there is a big decline particularly for the young people, 16-24 years age group (5 people less). (2) The number of injuries is high with persons aged 3-39 (17, 577 people) and 16-24 (145, 557 people), and together comprise 35.2% overall. In comparison to the previous year, particularly there has been a decline in 16-24 (decline of 5,672 people) and 5-59 (decline of 4,595 people) age groups. 3,5 Trends in the Number of Traffic Fatalities by Age Group 3, 2,5 2, 1,5 Noticeable downward trend of youth group 2,45 persons (5.4) 1, 5 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 24 29 489 persons (1.1) 469 persons (9.6) 395 persons (8.1) 378 persons (7.8) 373 persons (7.7) 198 persons (4.1) 111 persons (2.3) 15 years and under 16-24 years old 25-29 years old 3-39 years old 4-49 years oid 5-59 years old 6-64 years old 65 years or older 2: Rate in the configuration of the number of deaths by age group ( ) is a (%). 3, Trends in the Number of Road Accident Casualties by Age Group 25, 2, 15, 1, 5, 17,577 persons (19.) 145,557 persons (16.2) 138,17 persons (15.4) 121,985 persons (13.6) 19,38 persons (12.2) 84,7 persons (9.5) 66,623 persons (7.4) 59,279 persons (6.6) 1991 1994 1997 2 23 26 29 15 years and under 16-24 years old 25-29 years old 3-39 years old 4-49 years oid 5-59 years old 6-64 years old 65 years or older 2: Rate in the configuration of the number of deaths by age group ( ) is a (%). - 4 -
Number of Road Fatalities and Injuries by Condition (1) The number of fatalities was most prominent involving cases while walking (1,714 people) and next while riding in an automobile (1,62 people), and together comprise 68.1% overall. (2) The number of injuries was most prominent involving cases while riding in an automobile (559, 26 people), and comprises 62.4%. The next was 15,973 people for those riding on a bicycle (16.8%). 6, Trends in the number of traffic fatalities by condition By car By motorcycle By motorbike By bicycle Pedestrians 5, 4, Noticeable downward trend of group By car 3, 2, 1, 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 24 29 Note 1: Documents created by the National Police Agency. "Other" is omitted. 2: Component rate of fatalities by situation ( ) is a (%). 1,714 persons (35.2) 1,62 persons (32.9) 658 persons (13.5) 512 persons (1.5) 359 persons (7.4) Trends in the number of traffic accidents casualties by condition 7, 6, 5, Noticeable downward trend of group By car 559,26 persons (62.4) 4, 3, By car By motorcycle By motorbike By bicycle Pedestrians 2, 1, 1991 1994 1997 2 23 26 29 Note 1: Documents created by the National Police Agency. "Other" is omitted. 2: Component rate of the number of traffic accidents casualties by situation () is a (%). 15,973 persons (16.8) 69,83 persons (7.7) 67,798 persons (7.6) 48,277 persons (5.4) - 5 -
Number of Road Fatalities by Condition and Age Group When examining the number of traffic accident fatalities by condition during 21 in terms of age groups, the following characteristics were observed: (1) In each of the following cases: involving riding in automobiles (36.6%), motorized bikes (62.3%), bicycles (62.3%), and pedestrians (71.6%), elderly people over 65 years old comprise the highest proportion, among which particularly percentage of cases involving pedestrians and bicycles became extremely high. (2) In cases involving riding a motorcycle, young people aged 16-24 still comprise the highest proportion at an overall 26.6%. - 6 -
Number of Fatalities by Seatbelt Use and Non-Use (1) When examining the number of traffic accident fatalities while riding in an automobile in terms of seat belt use and non-use, 741 people did not use a seatbelt, which indicates a decrease of 25 people (3.5%) compared to the previous year. (2) The fatality rate of people who were not wearing their seatbelt (the proportion of fatalities comprising the number of injuries and fatalities) is 13.9 times the rate of those who did wear their seatbelts. Transition of Automobile Fatalities by Seatbelt Use and Non Use 4,5 4, 3,5 3, 2,5 2, 1,5 1, 3,953 persons 172 persons With seat belt Without seat belt Unknown 3,711 persons 167 persons 3,438 persons 128 persons 3,28 persons 129 persons 2,918 persons 152 persons 2,722 persons 134 persons 2,359 persons 114 persons 2,13 persons 2,311 persons 74 persons 2,167 persons 1,71 persons 1,62 persons 1,973 persons (58.5%) 1,6 persons 1,675 persons (58.4%) 1,592 persons 1,41 persons 75 persons (57.4%) 59 persons 46 persons (55.3%) 1,21 persons (54.6%) (51.8%) 1,1 persons (51.3%) 816 persons 716 persons 741 persons (49.7%) (47.7%) (44.8%) (46.3%) 5 1,47 persons 1,377 persons 1,337 persons 1,224 persons 1,178 persons 1,35 persons938 persons 819 persons 825 persons 815 persons 1,174 persons (37.2%) (37.1%) (38.9%) (4.4%) (4.2%) (43.3%) (43.9%) (46.6%) (47.9%) (51.6%) (5.9%) 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 Note: Data by the National Police Agency. Number of Fatalities by Infant Car Seat Use and Non-Use (1) There were 18 fatalities of children under the age of 6 while riding in an automobile (among them 5 were using an infant car seat), and 17 children who sustained severe injuries. (2) When examining the fatal and severe injury rate of children under the age of 6 by infant car seat use and non-use, the rate is 4. times higher than those who did not use an infant car seat 9.9 times higher than those who did not properly use an infant car seat in comparison to cases when the infant car seat was properly used. 5 Number of deaths 4 3 2 1 5 166 2 2 Transition of Fatalities and Severe Injuries by Infant Car Seat Use and Non Use 21 186 168 167 174 162 154 11 32 21 25 9 8 22 22 23 11 3 24 127 12 17 18 14 12 12 13 11 7 3 9 4 7 5 25 26 27 28 Child safety seats use Fatalities Child safety seats non-use Fatalities Severely wounded persons 29 21 22 17 12 7 2-3 Note: Documents created by the National Police Agency. "Unknown" is omitted. Number of serious injuries (%) 6 5 4 3 2 1 Fatality Rate and Fatal/Severe Injury Rate by Infant Car Seat Use and Non Use (in 21) Correct use Incorrect use Non-use.3 14.8 times.46 Rate of fatality.48 15.5 times 9.9 times.51 5.6 4. tomes 2.7 Rate of injury and death Note: Data by the National Police Agency. - 7 -