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The number of traffic accident fatalities nationwide in 2014 was 4,113 -- 260 fewer than in 2013 -- and a decrease for the 14th year in a row, the National Police Agency (NPA) said Monday.
The NPA attributed the decrease to a crackdown on drunk driving and a campaign to raise awareness of seatbelt use, TBS reported.
The NPA added that 2,193 fatalities were individuals aged 65 or older, 110 fewer than in 2013. It said 227 deaths were attributed to drink driving.
Aichi Prefecture recorded the most deaths, with 204 (it was also No. 1 in 2013), followed by Kanagawa (185), Hyogo (187), Chiba and Hyogo (182) and Tokyo (172). Tottori Prefecture reported the fewest deaths, with 26 fatalities.
© Japan Today
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some14some
Population is down, automobile sales are down and so are traffic fatalities
bicultural
some14some, the population decreased 0.2%, whereas traffic fatalities decreased 6%. Also, more than half were due to drivers 65 and over. With the aging population, we should expect more fatalities, not less. Regardless, the fact that numbers have been going down every year for over a decade is very good news.
Tomasz Stasinski
Hokkaido not even in top five. That's a change.
tinawatanabe
Isn't 4,113, 260 too big?
avigator
So is the population too, and people are driving less to save money.
Kaerimashita
Good news. One of the safest countries in the world to drive. Despite the low standard of driver awareness and behaviour. Good manners? low speed limits?
Mocheake
Great news for sure. Wonder what the fatality rate per kilometer is and how it compares worldwide? Maybe NationMaster has that kind of information.
Magic Eight Ball
Thanks to the zero tolerance DUI policy, out here in the country people don't even bother to leave their homes in the evening. What is there to do?
What would be really interesting is to know is the numbers of directly alcohol related deaths caused by drivers under the previous legal limits and compare those directly. Its the only way to really know, as much as some people want to use general numbers to prove their preconceived notions. Until I see the direct numbers, I blame the sheer boredom factor. Can't even dance legally in most establishments in Japan. Not even being allowed to drive within rational limits is a real buzz kill and I don't think its directly saved anyone.
justbcuzisay
Glad to see the numbers going down.