Marginal gains seen in Japanese road safety data

Data from Japan’s National Police Agency reveals that 4,373 people were killed in crashes in 2013. This was a fall of 0.9% compared with the figures for 2012. The fall in road traffic deaths in 2013 is said to have come as a result of better traffic safety initiatives. The data revealed that 799,660 people were injured in crashes in 2013, while Japan saw a Total of 628,248 crashes overall. Worryingly some 2,303 senior citizens were killed in traffic crashes in 2013, a rise of 1.7%, while at 219, the highest traffic fatality rate was reported in Aichi.