Japan police release data on accidents by foreign drivers for 1st time
Such accidents caused by foreign drivers accounted for 2.1 percent of the total in the first half of this year, up from 1.9 percent from the previous year and 1.1 percent in 2015, according to the agency's figures released in late July.
Of the 258 accidents reported, 84.5 percent involved holders of Japanese driver's licenses, followed by 6.2 percent with international licenses and 1.9 percent with licenses issued by foreign countries.
But holders of Japanese driver's licenses likely include those who have switched their licenses from other countries to Japanese ones, a procedure that has been criticized by some lawmakers as being "too easy."
The police agency said last month that it plans to make foreign driver's license conversion tests more stringent by significantly increasing the number of questions.
The number of accidents involving foreign drivers had declined from 2005 before picking again in recent years, according to the agency.
The rise in the data comes as Japan's foreign population has been increasing.
By nationality, South and North Koreans as well as Chinese respectively accounted for 51 cases, or 19.8 percent of the total, followed by Vietnamese with 31 cases, or 12.0 percent, and Brazilians with 25 cases, or 9.7 percent.
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Japan Today
2 hours ago
- Japan Today
Japanese police release data on accidents by foreign drivers
Japan's National Police Agency has released data on traffic accidents resulting in deaths or serious injuries caused by foreign drivers for the first time, soon after saying rules for converting overseas licenses to Japanese ones would be tightened. Such accidents caused by foreign drivers accounted for 2.1 percent of the total in the first half of this year, up from 1.9 percent from the previous year and 1.1 percent in 2015, according to the agency's figures released in late July. Of the 258 accidents reported, 84.5 percent involved holders of Japanese driver's licenses, followed by 6.2 percent with international licenses and 1.9 percent with licenses issued by foreign countries. But holders of Japanese driver's licenses likely include those who have switched their licenses from other countries to Japanese ones, a procedure that has been criticized by some lawmakers as being "too easy." The police agency said last month that it plans to make foreign driver's license conversion tests more stringent by significantly increasing the number of questions. The number of accidents involving foreign drivers had declined from 2005 before picking again in recent years, according to the agency. The rise in the data comes as Japan's foreign population has been increasing. By nationality, South and North Koreans as well as Chinese respectively accounted for 51 cases, or 19.8 percent of the total, followed by Vietnamese with 31 cases, or 12.0 percent, and Brazilians with 25 cases, or 9.7 percent. © KYODO
The Mainichi
19 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan police release data on accidents by foreign drivers for 1st time
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's National Police Agency has released data on traffic accidents resulting in deaths or serious injuries caused by foreign drivers for the first time, soon after saying rules for converting overseas licenses to Japanese ones would be tightened. Such accidents caused by foreign drivers accounted for 2.1 percent of the total in the first half of this year, up from 1.9 percent from the previous year and 1.1 percent in 2015, according to the agency's figures released in late July. Of the 258 accidents reported, 84.5 percent involved holders of Japanese driver's licenses, followed by 6.2 percent with international licenses and 1.9 percent with licenses issued by foreign countries. But holders of Japanese driver's licenses likely include those who have switched their licenses from other countries to Japanese ones, a procedure that has been criticized by some lawmakers as being "too easy." The police agency said last month that it plans to make foreign driver's license conversion tests more stringent by significantly increasing the number of questions. The number of accidents involving foreign drivers had declined from 2005 before picking again in recent years, according to the agency. The rise in the data comes as Japan's foreign population has been increasing. By nationality, South and North Koreans as well as Chinese respectively accounted for 51 cases, or 19.8 percent of the total, followed by Vietnamese with 31 cases, or 12.0 percent, and Brazilians with 25 cases, or 9.7 percent.
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Kyodo News
Japan police release data on accidents by foreign drivers for 1st time
TOKYO - Japan's National Police Agency has released data on traffic accidents resulting in deaths or serious injuries caused by foreign drivers for the first time, soon after saying rules for converting overseas licenses to Japanese ones would be tightened. Such accidents caused by foreign drivers accounted for 2.1 percent of the total in the first half of this year, up from 1.9 percent from the previous year and 1.1 percent in 2015, according to the agency's figures released in late July. Of the 258 accidents reported, 84.5 percent involved holders of Japanese driver's licenses, followed by 6.2 percent with international licenses and 1.9 percent with licenses issued by foreign countries. But holders of Japanese driver's licenses likely include those who have switched their licenses from other countries to Japanese ones, a procedure that has been criticized by some lawmakers as being "too easy." The police agency said last month that it plans to make foreign driver's license conversion tests more stringent by significantly increasing the number of questions. The number of accidents involving foreign drivers had declined from 2005 before picking again in recent years, according to the agency. The rise in the data comes as Japan's foreign population has been increasing. By nationality, South and North Koreans as well as Chinese respectively accounted for 51 cases, or 19.8 percent of the total, followed by Vietnamese with 31 cases, or 12.0 percent, and Brazilians with 25 cases, or 9.7 percent.
