At the end of the year, there is an increase in the movement of people and vehicles, which may lead to traffic accidents.

The “Year-end Traffic Safety Campaign” aims to raise awareness among all residents of the province about traffic safety, encouraging them to abide by the rules and practice good manners in traffic.

1. Period

10 days, from December 1 (Sunday) to December 10, 2024 (Tuesday)

(December 1 is the Day for the Campaign to Eradicate Drunk Driving).

2. Focus of the campaign

(1) Prevention of traffic accidents involving children and the elderly

• Let us protect the lives of the elderly, who account for approximately half of all deaths in traffic accidents and children, who are the most important citizens of the next generation, from traffic accidents.
• Drive with awareness and a sense of danger avoid accidents and protect the children and the elderly.
• Slow down when driving on school routes to avoid accidents.
• At dusk, turn on your headlights early enough to identify pedestrians and cyclists.

(2) Ensure that pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks and practice safe crossing methods.

• Pedestrians having the right of way at crosswalks is not a matter of etiquette, but a constitutional law.
• If there are pedestrians near a crosswalk, slow down first so that you can stop immediately. When a pedestrian crosses a crosswalk, always stop first to allow the pedestrian to cross safely.
• Pedestrians should always cross at a crosswalk if there is one nearby. When crossing, stop and check both sides of the road to make sure it is safe.
• Some drivers do not notice pedestrians. Simply pointing your hand at the driver to indicate your intention to cross will greatly increase the chance that the driver will stop. When crossing, indicate your intention to cross to avoid traffic accidents.

(3) Ensure that seat belts and child seats are being used correctly

• Fasten seat belts in all seats.
• When children under six years of age are in a car, make sure they are properly fitted with a child seat to prevent traffic accidents.
• Even if your child is over six years of age, consider using a child seat or junior seat until he or she reaches 150 cm in height as a guide, as car seat belts may not be fully effective depending on the child’s physique.

(4) Eradicate drunk driving

• Understand that drunk driving is a malicious and dangerous offense and carries serious liabilities.
• Do not drive your car if you anticipate drinking alcohol.
• Not only those who drive under the influence of alcohol, but also those who lend a car to someone who has been drinking, offer alcohol to the driver, or ride in a car with a drunk driver are subject to the same penalties as the driver.
• Drinking and driving is absolutely prohibited not only for cars and motorcycles, but also for bicycles. Drinking and riding a bicycle is punished in the same way as driving a car.
• Each of us must “not drink and drive” and “not let anyone drink and drive.” Do not allow it. I will not allow it.” and let us eradicate drunk driving together.

(5) Wear helmets and observe traffic rules when using bicycles and specified small motor vehicles

• Although bicycles are a vehicle that anyone can easily drive, they must obey traffic rules in the same way as a car.
• All cyclists must wear helmets to protect their lives.
• Be aware of the dangers to yourself and those around you when riding with someone on the back, holding an umbrella while riding a bicycle, using a smartphone or headphones, etc., and never drive in a dangerous manner.
• Traffic rules for specified small motorized bicycles include the obligation to wear a license plate and to take out motor vehicle liability insurance.
• When using a specified small motorized bicycle, be sure to observe traffic rules and use the bicycle safely.
• Bicycles are also vehicles and should never be driven under the influence of alcohol. (Amendments to the Road Traffic Law have created penalties for using mobile phones and driving under the influence of alcohol.)

Click here for the awareness flyer for the Prefecture’s Year-End Traffic Safety Campaign.

Click here for the flyer on the revision of the Road Traffic Law for bicycles.

3. Contact (in Japanese language only)

Mieken Kankyo Seikatsu-bu Kurashi Koutsu Anzen-ka Koutsu Anzen-han (三重県　環境生活部　くらし・交通安全課　交通安全班)

Telephone number: 059-224-2410