Growing number of fatal accidents involving trucks in Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has begun a public safety campaign asking all truck drivers to take extra care when on the roads. The campaign comes after a spike in the number of traffic fatalities involving trucks.

As of April 3, police said the number of fatalities involving trucks and vans hitting smaller cars, pedestrians and cyclists reached 50, which was 57 days before the same number was reached in 2014, Fuji TV reported.

In the latest incident, an elementary school boy was hit and killed by a large dump truck in Tokyo on April 16.

As part of the campaign that began on April 17, police have begun setting up safety checkpoints in Koto Ward where they stop passing trucks and other large vehicles and speak with the driver about safe driving and maintenance of their vehicle, as well as pass out informative flyers.

Police said they plan to expand the campaign to all 23 wards.

© Japan Today