Traffic Bureau
Overview
In 2023, the total number of fatalities caused by traffic accidents was 2,678, the first year on year increase in eight years since 2015. Total numbers of traffic accidents and persons injured have also increased from last year.
Enforcement
The police analyze traffic accidents precisely and place emphasis on enforcement against vicious and serious violations, resulting in grave accidents including fatal ones, such as unlicensed driving, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, serious speeding violations and ignoring traffic signals. The police also focus on illegal parking and reckless driving by motorcycle gangs (Bosozoku).
Traffic Accident Information
Traffic Rules[English]
Click here for Cabinet Office page
- Traffic Rules for Specified Small Motorized Bicycles (Electric Scooters) (610KB)
关于特定小型发动机助力自行车(俗称电动滑板车等)主要交通规则 (641KB)
특정 소형 원동기장착 자전거(일명 전동 킥보드 등)에 관한주요 교통 규칙 안내 (672KB)
- Traffic Safety Guidelines (for Pedestrians and Cyclists) (6MB) [Published: September 2, 2011]
Note : Five rules to follow to ensure safety when riding a bicycle were revised on November 1, 2022, but this document is the content before the revision. - Traffic Lights and Road Signs(1.51MB)[Updated: December 26, 2023]
- Safety driving in Japan(animation)(Link to the International Association of Traffic and Safety Science website)
- Eradication of Drinking and Driving (83KB)Opens in a PDF file
- Stop Using Your Smartphone, Cellphone, etc., While Driving! (81KB)Opens in a PDF file
- Fasten Your Seat Belt Wherever You Are Seated (100KB)Opens in a PDF file
- Child Seats Save Children (94KB)Opens in a PDF file
- Prevention of Traffic Accidents at Sundown (148KB)Opens in a PDF file
- Pedestrians First at Road Crossings (113KB) Opens in a PDF file
- What to Do in the Event of a Traffic Accident (81KB)Opens in a PDF file
- What to Do in the Event of a Major Earthquake (75KB)Opens in a PDF file
- What to Do in Case of Vehicle Trouble, etc. (78KB)Opens in a PDF file
- All Bicycle Riders Should Wear Helmets(280KB)
- Bicycle rider trainingsystem(548KB)
- Stop Driving to Obstruct Traffic(101KB)
- Key Points of Measures for Preventing Traffic Accidents Involving Children(82KB)Opens in a PDF file
Traffic Rules[Other languages]
- 致在日驾车的各位外籍来客(283KB) [Published: October 4, 2021]
- 일본에서 운전하는 외국인 운전자 여러분께(376KB) [Published: October 4, 2021]
- A tous les conducteurs étrangers qui roulent au Japon
An alle ausländischen Kraftfahrer/innen, die in Japan fahren
Dành cho tài xế người nước ngoài lái xe tại Nhật Bản(356KB) [Published: October 4, 2021]
- 请遵守交规 Enjoy Japan [Published: January 31, 2021]
- 법규를 지키며 Enjoy Japan [Published: January 31, 2021]
- die Verkehrsregeln einhalten Viel Spa ßin Japan [Published: January 31, 2021]
- Respectez les règles Enjoy Japan [Published: January 31, 2021]
- Tuân thủ quy định Enjoy Japan [Published: January 31, 2021]
- GUIA de SEGURANCA de TRANSITO no JAPAO(para Pedestres e Usuarios de Bicicletas) (6MB) [Published: September 2, 2011]
Note : Five rules to follow to ensure safety when riding a bicycle were revised on November 1, 2022, but this document is the content before the revision.
- 行人及自行車交通安全指南(6MB) [Published: September 2, 2011]
Note : Five rules to follow to ensure safety when riding a bicycle were revised on November 1, 2022, but this document is the content before the revision.
- (6MB) [Published: September 2, 2011]
Note : Five rules to follow to ensure safety when riding a bicycle were revised on November 1, 2022, but this document is the content before the revision.
- 我想知道!⽇本的交通規則)[Published: March 26, 2012]
- Conhecendo as regras de trânsito no Japão[Published:March 26, 2012]
Driver's License
The police are responsible for driver's license administration. As of the end of 2019, 82,158,428 persons possess driver's licenses.
Driver's licenses are valid for five years unless drivers are novice drivers, have committed traffic violations or caused traffic accidents, or are 70 years of age or older.
At the time of renewal, drivers are required to undergo training according to their respective records of traffic violations and accidents.
Drivers who are 70 years of age or older, are required to undergo training for elderly drivers at the time of renewal. Additionally, drivers who are 75 years of age or older are required to undergo a cognitive assessment in advance. Based on the assessment, elderly drivers will be assigned to undergo the most appropriate training. Further measures can be taken for elderly drivers who show cognitive impairment.
The police can promptly revoke or suspend licenses of drivers who committed serious traffic violations or caused accidents, and require them to undergo additional training.
Driver's license categories in Japan/Vehicle types in Japan
For Holders of Foreign Driver’s Licenses[English]
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How to Drive in Japan/How to Obtain a Japanese Driver’s License[Published:September 30,2021]
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Examples of Photographs for Application,etc., [Published:April 20,2021]
- List of Contracting States,etc.,to the Geneva Convention [Published:September 30,2021]
For Holders of Foreign Driver’s Licenses[Other language]
- 持外国驾照者(可在日本驾车的方法 / 取得日本驾照的方法)(216KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- Las personas que tienen una licencia de conducir extranjera (Modo de conducir en Japón / Modo de obtener la licencia japonesa)(451KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- Pemilik SIM Luar Negeri (Cara mengemudi di Jepang / Cara memperoleh SIM Jepang)(232KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- ចំពោះអ្នកកាន់ប័ណ្ណបើកបរបរទេស (វិធីបើកបរនៅប្រទេសជប៉ុន / វិធីទទួលប័ណ្ណបើកបរជប៉ុន)(222KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- 외국 운전면허를 소지하신 분(일본에서 운전하는 방법 / 일본 면허를 취득하는 방법)(309KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- Гадаадын жолооны үнэмлэхтэй хүнд (Японд жолоо барих арга зам / Японы жолооны үнэмлэх авах арга)(250KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- ပြည်ပယာဉ်မောင်းလိုင်စင်ကိုင်ဆောင်ထားသူများ (ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံတွင်ယာဉ်မောင်းခြင်းနည်းလမ်း / ဂျပန်နိုင်ငံ၏ယာဉ်မောင်းလိုင်စင်ပြုလုပ်ခြင်းနည်းလမ်း)(593KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- विदेशी राष्ट्रको सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र भएको व्यक्तिहरूको लागि (जापानमा सवारी साधन चलाउने तरिका / जापानको सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र प्राप्त गर्ने तरिका)(1.4MB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- Às pessoas com carteira de habilitação estrangeira (Como dirigir no Japão / Como obter a carteira de habilitação do Japão)(213KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- Para sa mga may hawak ng International Driving Permit(Pamamaraan ng pagmamaneho sa Japan / Paraan ng pagkuha ng lisensyang Hapon)(268KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- ผู้ที่มีใบอนุญาตขับขี่ของต่างประเทศ(วิธีขับรถยนต์ในประเทศญี่ปุ่น / วิธีขอรับใบอนุญาตขับขี่ประเทศญี่ปุ่น)(775KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
- Những người có Giấy phép lái xe của nước ngoài(Cách thức lái xe tại Nhật Bản / Phương pháp để có được Giấy phép lái xe của Nhật Bản)(340KB) [Published: April 1, 2020]
For Holders International Driver’s Permit
● English(related to international driver's license)
● Hindi(अंतर्राष्ट्रीय ड्राईवर लाइसेंस से संबंधित)
● Chinese(国际驾照相关问答)
● Korean(국제운전면허증 관련)
● Thai(เกี่ยวข้องกับใบขับขี่สากล)
Cognitive function Test for Senior Drivers
● Cognitive Assessment
A driver who is 75 years of age or older as of the final day of the driver’s license renewal period must undergo a cognitive assessment, etc.
The cognitive assessment, etc. may be taken from six months before the final day of the driver’s license renewal period.
A driver who needs to undergo a cognitive assessment receives a notice to that effect from the police by six months before the final day of the driver’s license renewal period.
● About cognitive assessment
Cognitive assessment is a test for measuring the testee’s memory and judgment. For two test items, namely, cued recall and temporal orientation, the testee enters answers in test sheets or on a tablet with the software for the test by using a stylus.
Specifically, the following two items are tested:
○ Cued recall
A cued recall test is conducted to check the testee’s memory. The testee memorizes certain illustrations, and after doing a task unrelated to scores, recalls the memorized illustrations without cues first, and then with cues.
○ Temporal orientation
A temporal orientation test is conducted to check the testee’s perception of time. The testee answers the year, month, date, the day of the week, and the time as of the test.
After the tests, scores are given, and the testee is determined either to "have risk of dementia" or "have no risk of dementia" according to the total score.
The testee is notified of the test result in writing (including a post card, etc.).
If a person is determined to “have risk of dementia” as a result of the test, the person is contacted by the public safety commission (police), and is required to undergo a special fitness screening or receive a diagnosis from a doctor based on an order to submit a medical certificate. If the person is diagnosed with dementia, the person’s license is revoked or suspended after proceedings such as a hearing.
Meanwhile, if a driver who is 75 years of age or older commits a specific traffic violation, such as ignoring the traffic light, a cognitive assessment is specially administered for that driver. The details of the test are the same as those of an ordinary cognitive assessment.
In this special cognitive assessment as well, a person who is determined to “have risk of dementia” as a result of the test needs to undergo a special fitness screening or submit a medical certificate, and if the person is diagnosed with dementia, the person’s license is revoked or suspended after proceedings such as a hearing.
In addition, in the case of a special cognitive assessment, if a person who was determined to “have no risk of dementia” in the most recently received assessment is determined to “have risk of dementia” in the current assessment, the person must take special training for elderly drivers.
Note: A cognitive assessment is a simple method for checking the status of a testee’s memory and judgment, and is not a substitute for a diagnosis or a medical testing by a medical doctor.
The test sheets, illustrations, and scoring method used for the cognitive assessment are as shown below.
Enforcement (312KB)
・「Notificton of Traffic Violation」