Traffic accidents in Japan have increased rapidly since the 1950s due to the popularisation of the motor vehicle. Fatalities reached 16,765 in 1970 after breaking through the 10,000 barrier in 1959. This has become an immense social problem often typified by the expression 'road warfare'. In view of this situation, the Traffic Safety Policies Law was enacted in 1970 and a comprehensive range of traffic accident prevention measures was implemented including stepped up road activities with more traffic police officers, the introduction of an infringement system, improvements in the road and traffic environment and greater traffic safety activities at all levels in the community. As a result, the number of traffic accidents fell sharply and the number of traffic fatalities in 1979 fell to 8,466, almost half that of the peak in 1970. However, traffic accidents reverted into an upward trend from the late 1970s and fatalities again surpassed 10,000 in 1988. This high level trend continues today. During 1995 fatalities exceeded 10,000 for the eighth consecutive year. Injured reached 900,000 for the first time in twenty-four years since 1971 and accidents established new worst records. The breakdown of traffic accidents during 1995 is as follows: • Killed 10,679 (30 or 0.3% more than 1994), Death within 24 hours; • Injured 922,677 (40,954 or 4.6% more than 1994); • Accidents 761,789 (32,332 or 4.4% more than 1994 ) Points that are particularly worth noting in relation to the number of fatal accidents in 1995 are: • In contrast to the decline in fatalities amongst the young (aged 16-24) and the child (under 15), the elderly fatalities (aged 65 and over) increased inordinately occupying more than 30% of all traffic accident fatalities for the first time. • Motor vehicle occupant and pedestrian fatalities increased while motorcycle fatalities decreased. • Fatalities of motor vehicle occupants restrained with seat belt increased while those unrestrained decreased. From 1993, statistics were recorded on fatalities which occurred within 30 days as a result of an accident in addition to those statistics which were being recorded for fatalities which occurred within 24 hours. The ratio of these figures in 1995 was 1.19 times, almost same as 1993(1.21 times) and 1994(1.20 times).
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