No. of accidents involving people using phones while walking increases

Good idea! Put up safety posters that the numb thumb crowd, with their eyes glued to their smart phones, won't likely pay any attention to.

The youth of today are certainly into their own world with their headsets on and looking at their phones as they walk on the streets. I just wonder what is so important that all this has to go on. The number of students who do this while riding their bicycles is also amazing. Recently noticed older people are also getting into the cell world. Luckily live conversations are not going on on the trains that often. That is not the case in China or Korea.

kitzrow May. 06, 2014 - 07:52AM JST The number of students who do this while riding their bicycles is also amazing.

In Japan, there be be a law to ban from using handheld cell phones while riding bicycle. The police should have enforcement authority for a violation of this law. That means that an officer can pull you over just for this infraction. For the most part, bicycle riders should be allowed to use hands-free phones. but strongly urged not to do so.

I've seen a number of near misses between pedestrians bent over their phones, and cars. In one instance, the guy was head-down plowing his way through a crowd that had stopped at an intersection. At the precise moment he stepped out of the crowd and off the curb, a car went by. If he had completed that step, he would've been hit. But he pulled back just in time.

At my school, the students are constantly on their phones as they go up and down the stairs. No matter how much I beg them and warn them, in class and on the stairs, they seem powerless against this addiction.

Please be careful everyone. Your life could change in an instant.

This hits one of my pet peeves. I encountered this first in Singapore but now much more in Japan. People walking down public streets looking at their androids and expecting everybody else to watch out for them and give way. My way of coping is through the rule of gross tonnage.....I out weigh you so if we collide because you weren't looking, too bad for you.

No. of accidents involving people using phones while walking increases

What?!?!? You mean the poster campaign didn't work?!?! Say it ain't so!!

As a family, I think I've been pretty successful at drilling it into my children's heads not to use their cell phones while they're in motion, whether they're walking or bicycling. Basically, such education and etiquette begins at home and many parents are to blame for much of this problem. TPO. Furthermore, I'm always telling my family to keep a watchful eye out for cars and bicycles coming toward them being operated by cell phone users. One night of my students here in Japan came to class with a nasty, bloody gash on her knee. After getting her bandaged up, I asked her how it happened, and she told me she was riding her bicycle (with light) to class and another girl (late teens or early 20s) was coming towards her on a bicycle with no light on it weaving from side to side. She said she saw her coming never looking up because the glow of the girl's cell phone was reflecting off her face. Anyway, she told me she came to a full stop on her bicycle and braced herself for impact and the girl with the cell phone just plowed right into her. It's getting pretty ridiculous out there, folks, so be careful and be defensive.

My way of coping is through the rule of gross tonnage.....I out weigh you so if we collide because you weren't looking, too bad for you.

My rule too! I especially hate "drifters" who can't stay on a straight line and think they're the only one on the pavement.

Anyway, she told me she came to a full stop on her bicycle and braced herself for impact

@stormcrow-- But she did not yell out "STOP YOU IDIOT!" See, what Japan really needs is not so much a direct campaign against careless smartphone use, but a campaign to teach Japanese people to use their vocal chords when they see stupid people doing stupid things. The secondary result to everyone yelling at these idiot smartphone users would be that most of them would stop being so stupid.

Last year the biggest cause of smartphone-related accidents (26 people) was people using their phones or looking at the screens, and the next (5 people) were injured while talking on the phone. This indicates that it’s smartphones with their touch-enabled screens and myriad functions that are the main culprit.

A forced and biased conclusion given the thinness of the data.

@goodchoice

Good point, goodchoice. I suppose that even if she had shouted that the girl wouldn't have heard or noticed her. Added to that the suddeness of the situation. Obviously, the best thing would've been for the girl to not been using her cell phone in the first place. A powerful fog horn attached to a bicycle might be the most effective deterrent to prevent and protect people who are riding their bicycles correctly.

This article is describing a tempest in a teapot. From the first misleading sentence, we see the direction: how will cellphones on trains cause accidents? crowded streets? Not many cell users there. And, 36 accidents among probably 10,000,000 users X 365 days used, works out to be about 1 accident in a billion uses. Seems pretty safe to me.

I go through this on an everyday basis. On my way to my office, I run into at least 2 to 5 people that are walking on the opposite direction from me that crash into me, because they have their heads NOT only buried in their phones, but they are bending down, holding their phone up all the way to their faces, it's no wonder they crash into you. The same goes for the bike riders, they scare me the most, because they fly along the streets with a zombie like gaze riding and looking into their phones. It's like everything is shut out. Very different from walking around in Manhattan where people usually dodge each other like locusts and hold their heads up higher.

Added to that the suddeness of the situation.

@stormcrow--That is just it. Yelling out has to be a reflex. If you have to think about yelling out, most times its already too late. I would describe the typical Japanese emergency reflex as "deer in the headlights". Useless to all including themselves.

I suppose there is solace in the fact that Japan is so safe that it does not make so much difference. As mitoguitarman says, this is a tempest in a teacup.

36 accidents must be a gross underestimate. I commute by bicycle and everyday I will usually see 2-3 other cyclists with their faces glued to a smart phone. I have been hit by one of these idiots once (no injury or damage so no reporting, but I yelled my head off a the punk). I am guessing that car drivers do it just as much if not more but its not as easy to see.

The police definitely need to start cracking down on this in a real way. Putting up posters is just one of those useless look we are doing something gestures designed to deflect demands for them to actually do something that might solve the problem but would require actual police work. I have seen these jackasses ride right past uniformed police officers while texting and the officers just ignored it (except once when a plainclothes officer stood right in front of the cyclist, flashed his badge and made him stop. I didn`t see what happened next but I thought it was pretty awesome. That was the exception though.)

Come on! The Japanese have been doing this for years. The only thing that differs is that these are accidents involving smartphones. Before that, there were 'gala-kei' and DS games, before that, GameBoys and Tamagochis... The point is, there is no people so unaware of and oblivious to their surroundings as Japanese city dwellers. That, plus an enormous childishness makes for a dangerous combination.

Anywhere in Tokyo at any given moment, you can encounter people not looking where they're going, turning right or left suddenly without checking if someone is coming up behind them, crowding the escalator, completely unaware of the throng of people wanting to pass... In short, they act just like kids do. While I'm surre smartphones make matters worse, they are just an extentsion of a typical, inherent mindset.

Two cases that I personally witnessed that show the idiocy of some people. Very busy, and dangerous intersection; blind person with sunglasses and walking stick tapping his way across this crazy road talking on his dang cell phone. My wife and I were flabbergasted. You would think he'd be trying to hear what the hell was going on around him...nope.

Second case, dumb high school kid riding a bike listening to his iPod texting while coasting down a hill. Idiot.

I have to agree with Knox Harrington, but I also have to point out that childishness is relative. We are all childish, each and every one of us, just in different ways, often influenced by culture.

For us, many things about Japanese is childish, such as not being mindful of those around us. Japanese, like no other people I know, will just stop dead in doorways and never mind the people trying to enter and exit. And of course there is walking around with face buried in a phone or a book, especially a comic book.

But Japanese think we are childish when we raise our voice in anger at the drop of a hat, or talk loudly on trains.

Neither is any more right or wrong than the other. So I would not call cell phone cluelessness childish. I would just call it foolish and idiotic, as those terms are more universal and the acts are universally so.

I go through this on an everyday basis. On my way to my office, I run into at least 2 to 5 people that are walking on the opposite direction from me that crash into me, because they have their heads NOT only buried in their phones, but they are bending down, holding their phone up all the way to their faces

If you are running into 2-5 people everyday, this indicates there is something wrong with the way you are walking as much as the people with their heads buried in their phones. I've literally never run into a single person who was looking at their phone, much less every day, and even multiple times per day. There has been the occasional close call, but never an actual collision. It sounds like you may no be watching where you are walking yourself, even if you aren't using your phone.

"The number of ambulance call-outs for people who have been injured due to using their smartphones..."

And once again we are blaming smartphones for everything under the sun when, and I've used this example in the past, I got hit by a lady coming out of a bank because her eyes were glued to her bank book while walking. What's more, how can they honestly be blaming this all on 'smartphones' when most Japanese think only iPhone's are "smartphones" and Android, Galaxy, and what not are NOT smartphones? And finally, making a POSTER for people whose eyes are glued to phones or maps or what have you is about the dumbest idea I've heard in a long time. A better idea would be to have cellular phone companies issue periodical warnings via email that can be seen on the screen of the phones people's eyes are glued to.

Watching people shuffle through Shinjuku staring at their phones reminds me of The Walking Dead...

The results of walking, and talking, texting in fiddling with a cellphone has deadly consequences since you have distracted attention and although your body may be in the environment, your head is somewhere else. In fact when texting, your eyes are probably not even in the environment. Communication through a handheld device is not the same as talking to someone in the same room or car. Hence using a cellphone while walking may not be wise because of the risk of being injured appears to increase as people get more cellphones and spend more time using them.

Smart phones? I guess some folk that use them are not smart! Walking, driving etc has to be dumb. Take away attention via anything will lead to people falling, crashing and so on. Stop.. chat/text if you must. Every so called smart phone ought to come with a warning. These things should not be useable if the user is moving. IMO

" Watching people shuffle through Shinjuku staring at their phones reminds me of The Walking Dead..."

Yes, the Walking BRAIN Dead.

Those who support some law to stop people from being careless, are you more comfortable in a Police State? Stupidity is annoying, but it's not criminal behavior. If, however, one of those knuckleheads with their gaze planted into their gadget(any type) injures you or does damage, then by all means lodge a criminal complaint. Possibly Simple Assault. Or do you propose people be required to have a walking license?

Again, blaming the device is as stupid as blaming the people who are absorbed in their own world and not paying attention while walking, or worse, driving. I don't see anyone on here complaining about car televisions (good for kids in the back seat, not for the drivers!), but I was terrified when a week and a half ago a co-worker gave me a ride home but was more obsessed with the Hanshin Tigers/Hiroshima Carp game on the screen than watching the road. What's the difference?

I'll admit that if I'm walking down the street and feel the vibration from my phone I'll pull it out and check what it is, but I only check, and usually stop and step to the side of the sidewalk to do so, or if I continue walking while I check I make sure that I am constantly aware of what's around me and only glance at the screen. Smartphones and the like are smart, people, unfortunately, not always so much.

@goodchoice

Yeah, I know what you mean. Japanese don't yell when they should, especially when it comes to the weaker sex. The only thing I can imagine coming out of their mouths is a squeaky "Kyaaa!", and that's when it's too late to be effective. They need to change that, however, having said that, I would also like to see the cell phone users riding their bicycles, driving/walking around take more responsibility. Besides, let's face it, the mightiest and squeakiest "Kyaaa!" in the world may work against another cell phone user on a bicycle but not against one driving a car.

I've caused a few 'accidents' with phone walkers. Or, maybe they weren't 'accidents'. They annoy the hell out of me! But, it's not just phones. You also have the mullets glued to their PSPs and Nintendo DS. I make a point of walking into the careless twits. It's rude and bloody annoying! Just a few weeks ago I saw a mid-30's woman walk straight off the train platform while playing one of those stupidly mind-numbing 'match three' games. Idiots!

Not only Japan...just came back from Hong Kong; it's even worse there, especially as many have the large screen models, held out in front of them as they shuffle and wobble along the pavements, totally oblivious to the surroundings...

Strangerland,

I suppose bass does not respect neckbending, smartphone using idiots and tiptoe around them as much as you do. Hence the collisions. Sure, we could all just bow down to the selfish people expecting us to move out of their way, but why? Attentive people who actually try to be aware of their surroundings and respect their fellow (wo)man I am sure are not getting tackled. The supposedly adult people moving about town like immature zombies deserve to get a bite of the reality sandwich and wake up getting bumped into. Call it an etiquette lesson.

Attentive people who actually try to be aware of their surroundings and respect their fellow (wo)man I am sure are not getting tackled. The supposedly adult people moving about town like immature zombies deserve to get a bite of the reality sandwich

And we all know the attentive lumps of gross tonnage strutting the streets handing' out reality sandwiches are really, like, mature.

Thanks everyone to post your opinions.

This is the most annoying Japanese behavior while visiting Tokyo, Japan. I almost lost myself a week ago when one Japanese idiot stubbornly refused to give up a gaming while we were all packed like sardines in elevator. One mama-san had one small boy and a big shopping bag while a little infant on her back. Too bad they got caught between the elevator doors and stumbled because this idiot kept playing the game with iphone and was blocking them to get off.

Please tell all Japanese to respect and be courteous to others. Please share the public infrastructures with others. I do not think I am asking too much. Thanks.

Strangerland,

I suppose bass does not respect neckbending, smartphone using idiots and tiptoe around them as much as you do.

I don't tiptoe around them, I just don't intentionally walk into people, because I'm not an a$$hole. I do sometimes tell people to watch where they are walking, but I see intentionally walking into someone who is absorbed in their phone as a lot worse than walking while absorbed into your phone. The former is intentional, while the latter is ignorant. Intentional violence is a lot worse than ignorant rudeness.

Unfortunately these individuals will only learn from their mistakes the hard way and the only one's I have any sympathy for are their innocent victims. I'll tell you this though, I ain't moving out of the way for these zombies and may even up my pace a little.

@Strangerland

"Intentional violence is a lot worse than ignorant rudeness"

Yes, a thousand times yes.

Unfortunately these individuals will only learn from their mistakes the hard way

I agree. One of these days one of the a$$holes who intentionally walks into a phone-walker will receive a punch to the face in return. They'll learn that people don't like being intentionally walked into pretty quick when that happens.

how much more do we have to dumb down society to cater to the truly stupid?

As another poster previously mentioned, this is hardly a new phenomenon. Since I first moved to Japan in 1998 - long before the advent of cell-phone texting and smart phones - one of the common pet peeves amongst westerners visiting or living here has been a seemingly utter lack of awareness of their surroundings on the part of the Japanese. This behaviour extends to when they travel abroad, to which many of us who have ecountered Japanese tour groups in our home countries or during our own travels can attest.

It's really not a Japanese thing. Lampposts are regularly wrapped in fabric to protect texters in London.

Strangeland, while not moving out of the way is indeed intentional, why is it that we should have to accommodate those who inconvenience the rest of us? Why should we change our course because these so-respectful people can't watch where they go? Maybe the only way these idiots will learn and not take-out some poor old lady or child is to get knocked to the ground instead and learn a lesson! And if they get angry and don't like it, well toooooooooo bad, I'm willing to teach them another way.

why is it that we should have to accommodate those who inconvenience the rest of us?

Because to not do so puts you in the wrong, and makes you worse than those you are supposedly teaching a lesson to - which is stupid in and of itself in that it won't teach them anything other than that that foreigner was an a$$hole.

This young girl comes flying around the corner on her bike, phone in hand, head down, then has the audacity to glare while passing me (almost head-on). UFB.

To the extent phones get smarter, more interesting, people will get more engrossed, dumber to their surroundings. Plus the ever-increasing self-absorbtion ("Screen or others? Screen!") Things were not as bad in the galapagos era by a long shot.

I've invented a great app for Android and iPhone. It...get this... tells you where you are going and if you about to bump into something. i expect to be very wealthy this time next year.

I'll admit that if I'm walking down the street and feel the vibration from my phone I'll pull it out and check what it is, but I only check, and usually stop and step to the side of the sidewalk to do so, or if I continue walking while I check I make sure that I am constantly aware of what's around me and only glance at the screen.

I am also guilty as charged. People here need to stop acting innocent like they have never checked or used their smart phones in public.

Does the word baka come to mind here?

I am shocked to see some negative responses to my post.

I used to know Japanese are very courteous to others mostly to seniors. What had happened to that "omoiyari" culture? Young Americans in my town are more courteous and generous to others unlike kids in Tokyo. Some of them are mean with no "omoiyari" here. You may want to take my words to a saving bank. Disappointed and outraged. I mean it.

As few have indicated, this is a global phenomenon not unique to Japan. And to those ex-pats who claim that they are more aware of their surroundings or even go further as to say they don't text while walking, baloney.

I concur with those selectively teaching a lesson to those idiots walking with their craniums buried in their phones. I've done it to males and stared them down unapologetically after the hit. Of course I'm always prepared to deal with possible retaliation but all just kept going on their way.

strangeland why is it that we should have to accommodate those who inconvenience the rest of us?

Because to not do so puts you in the wrong, and makes you worse than those you are supposedly teaching a lesson to - which is stupid in and of itself in that it won't teach them anything other than that that foreigner was an a$$hole.

Here is what you don't see my friend. These people are not only pedestrians but they are drivers too and do you think for one moment that their tendency to text ends when they get in the drivers seat? Do you think that they follow the law and not use their smartphones while driving? I have been riding my Harley on the streets of Tokyo and Japan for over twenty years and with my wife on the back half the time and I can tell you this, in the last several years I have experienced a surprising amount of close calls with cars and guess what they mostly have in common? In an overwhelming # of cases the a$$hole was texting or whatever with their smartphones and not paying attention and what gets my blood boiling even more is the a$$holes nod their empty little heads in apology then go back to doing whatever on their phones. My wife has stopped me several times after coming out of a skid from dragging one of these a$$holes out of their car and showing them a different use for their smartphone. And heaven forbid that my wife be on the back when the inevitable happens and get hit by a a$$hole who is texting because after I have taken care of my wife the consequences for this a$$hole will be swift and heavy handed and without mercy. And if I go to jail, so be it. Maybe some other a$$hole driver will read the news on his smartphone while driving down the highway and decide to shut it off! And if someone decides to employ a little "tough love", as my father would say, so be it.

So strangeland, unless you have a little skin in the game or should I say some skin to lose or more importantly that of a loved one, why don't you ease up a little because it seems your stakes in the game aren't so big here. It ain't about what others think about me or you or us as foreigners. Do you think I worry too much about what these a$$holes or others think about what an a$$hole I'm am? aaaahhhhh, uuhhmmmmm, let me ponder on this topic a little more.........this is really difficult.......... NO, I'm a little more concerned about my wife's life and my own and not too much about what others think about me, frankly!

No one has been talking about driving and texting anywhere in this thread, so your 'rebuttal' is completely off topic, meaningless, and an extremely long strawman. If you think the people on this thread who are 'defending' the phone walkers would also defend texting and driving, you're fooling yourself. And if you think that intentionally walking into someone who is phone walking is going to teach them not to text and drove, you're even more deluded.

why is it that we should have to accommodate those who inconvenience the rest of us?

Because to not do so puts you in the wrong, and makes you worse than those you are supposedly teaching a lesson to - which is stupid in and of itself in that it won't teach them anything other than that that foreigner was an a$$hole.

sorry, this was from "strangeland", not me.

More power to you Mr. Perfect, I sit on your side of the fence. These people who continuously use their smartphones while driving or riding a bike are just lethal weapons and pains me to see it. The problem is that it is like a disease, they are so engrossed and addicted to their smartphone that they cannot help themselves. Only way i see it, is for them to get a wake up call, and better to drag them out of their car then to have them crash into you. Honestly, it is a real addiction problem and without proper consciousness of it, the accidents will just continue to increase twofold.

My way of coping is through the rule of gross tonnage.....I out weigh you so if we collide because you weren't looking, too bad for you.

I used to do that, as, at almost 2 meters and around 100 kg, I'm basically double the weight of a small mindnumbed female texting while walking. Unfortunately one of such persons, after bumping into me fell and hit her head quite badly, and since I try to avoid these "drifters".. Think of it as a real-life game :).

As a Japanese, I'd like to give to such young guys an advice that it's much, much cooler not to watch the screen of cellphones while walking ! When you walk, you should walk while seeing the direction which you're heading for. True adults know what they should and have to do when they are doing something. Japanese youngsters must be much cooler and more adult.

Just give 'em a quick smack on the buns and they wake up right away!

nigelboy: "And to those ex-pats who claim that they are more aware of their surroundings or even go further as to say they don't text while walking, baloney."

But you didn't say the Japanese who say as much are full of baloney, did you? Kind of undermines your whole post. I don't think anyone disagrees at all that this is a world-wide phenomenon, although the police doing absolutely zero about it might be limited to Japan when it comes to kids riding bikes and texting or playing PSP, or worse, when people are driving and doing it.

And why is someone who merely glances at there phone but keeps their eyes otherwise glued to the streets and that around them full of baloney? I see teachers running around on home visitation days with their faces dug deep into maps and not looking at anything but who are far more dangerous than someone taking a quick peak at who may have sent a message or who is calling.

Smartphone are just the magical device that make people show their true colors.... That most humans are dumb, stupid and their brain stop working at the age of 3 months....

Supporting the existence of Smartphones, is supporting Evolution.

There is only one rule to remember in life and that is to show respect to others and in-kind respect will be shown onto you. But as my father would point out to me on various occasions growing up when I was to violate this rule, disrespect must come with consequences so suck it up and take it like a man. As such the term gomennasai and doumoarigatou are used without hesitation and with humility and sincerity. I LIVE by this rule and take responsibility when I don't follow it but in return, I DEMAND it of others and if I'm disrespected without good reason or cause, beware as consequences will follow.

Is this not the land of Bushido or or am I back in the states? Is chivalry dead? I just don't get some of you

There is only one rule to remember in life and that is to show respect to others and in-kind respect will be shown onto you.

Purposefully walking into someone to 'teach them a lesson', particularly when they won't learn the lesson being taught due to the method used to teach it, is not treating others with respect, it's treating others with disrespect.

But you didn't say the Japanese who say as much are full of baloney, did you? Kind of undermines your whole post. I don't think anyone disagrees at all that this is a world-wide phenomenon, although the police doing absolutely zero about it might be limited to Japan when it comes to kids riding bikes and texting or playing PSP, or worse, when people are driving and doing it.

I don't see a quote or a poster who is Japanese saying that they are "more aware" of their surroundings. And back to reality please. It is not limited to Japan "when it comes to kids riding bikes and texting, etc." Various parts of world. had an increase in auto accidents right after they enacted a "no texting and driving" law. Guess why that happened?

And why is someone who merely glances at there phone but keeps their eyes otherwise glued to the streets and that around them full of baloney? I see teachers running around on home visitation days with their faces dug deep into maps and not looking at anything but who are far more dangerous than someone taking a quick peak at who may have sent a message or who is calling.

Because that's what the 99.99999% of the population do which they "thought" they were glancing on the phone while being aware of the surroundings. You just happen to be not one of those 122 people who were unfortunate. Doesn't automatically elevate you to a "more aware" than most.

Purposefully walking into someone to 'teach them a lesson', particularly when they won't learn the lesson being taught due to the method used to teach it, is not treating others with respect, it's treating others with disrespect.

I now realize how wrong I've been thanks to comments such as this. I now have learned through the wisdom of others that I must stand aside and bow right-of-passage to people who are disrespecting me by their inability to recognizing my right-of-passage. I must be the bigger person and follow the path that Jesus followed to foster peace and tranquility as we are the moral and chosen ones and set an example for others to follow. I'm converted! Hallelujah Jesus! BS

nigelboy: "I don't see a quote or a poster who is Japanese saying that they are "more aware" of their surroundings"

I see you doing it quite clearly, albeit you try to use a reversal: "And to those ex-pats who claim that they are more aware of their surroundings..."

Truly sad you do not include the Japanese who might same the same in an argument where you claim to be making a universal statement. Not surprised, though.

"Because that's what the 99.99999% of the population do which they "thought" they were glancing on the phone while being aware of the surroundings. You just happen to be not one of those 122 people who were unfortunate. Doesn't automatically elevate you to a "more aware" than most."

Thank you for reinforcing at least two of my points -- that first and foremost you say 99.99999% percent of the population (I'm guessing you think there are more Japanese in Japan than foreigners, by the way); second, you seem to avoid the constant reminders that it is not limited to cell phones, let alone 'smart phones', and let alone the fact that most Japanese don't know that 'smart phone' is not limited to "iPhone". Nice way to shoot down your comment(s).

And as such: "Doesn't automatically elevate you to a "more aware" than most," it does. For I pay attention to my surroundings, much more than your average biker who goes through a read light, and a great, great deal more than the man or woman on the wrong side of the road on their bike, looking at a PSP or other things, or a guy in a car watching the navigation system, or some trucker in Saitama taking his eyes off the road to get something off the next seat before rear-ending a bus. Or will you blame that on smart phones?

I see you doing it quite clearly, albeit you try to use a reversal

Huh? I don't see a single comment stating that Japanese are more "aware" of their surroundings when they use their smartphones.

Thank you for reinforcing at least two of my points -- that first and foremost you say 99.99999% percent of the population (I'm guessing you think there are more Japanese in Japan than foreigners, by the way); second, you seem to avoid the constant reminders that it is not limited to cell phones, let alone 'smart phones', and let alone the fact that most Japanese don't know that 'smart phone' is not limited to "iPhone". Nice way to shoot down your comment(s).

You didn't. You see the number of accidents indicated in the article. Divide that by the number of users and you'll see that such instances are very rare.

And as such: "Doesn't automatically elevate you to a "more aware" than most," it does. For I pay attention to my surroundings, much more than your average biker who goes through a read light, and a great, great deal more than the man or woman on the wrong side of the road on their bike, looking at a PSP or other things, or a guy in a car watching the navigation system, or some trucker in Saitama taking his eyes off the road to get something off the next seat before rear-ending a bus. Or will you blame that on smart phones?

You proved my point. An average biker does not go through a "red light". An average trucker in Saitama does not take his eyes off the road to get something off the next seat before rear-ending a bus for if they do, the accident statistics would be through the roof.

To sum it up, your mind goes something like this.

I witness some people in Japan that are not attentative----->those people are Japanese----->therefore, I conclude that I am more attentative and careful than Japanese.