6. Threats to Safety
While deaths caused by automobile traffic accidents have decreased slightly in these past few years, over the last decade there has been an upward trend in terms of the overall number of accidents with fatalities and casualties having increased 1.3 times. In 1999 the number of people injured or killed exceeded one million for the first time in history, and with the number of people seriously disabled through accidents increasing, the so-called "New Traffic Wars" are clearly escalating in seriousness. Furthermore, 40% of the total number of people killed in traffic accidents are pedestrians and cyclists. This figure is extremely high in comparison to other developed nations, and innocent victims of fatal traffic accidents make up approximately 60% of the total.

In this context, the increase in the number of elderly people in society, and the high proportion of them holding driving licenses will change the nature of our driving public and may further aggravate the "New Traffic Wars".7

At the same time, in addition to the level of trust in our nation's traffic operations being adversely affected by repeated accidents, there are calls to protect our transport systems from becoming the object of crimes and to protect them from natural disasters.

Trends in the number of traffic accidents, casualties, fatalities and severe disabilities
  Note:
While fatalities and casualties are for each calendar year, severe disabilities are for each fiscal year.

Source:
Compiled by the Ministry of Transport from data supplied by the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis and the Committee for the Calculation of Automobile Insurance Rates

Ratio of Fatal Traffic Accidents involving Pedestrians and Cyclists

International comparison of the percentage of elderly people represented in traffic accident related fatalities. (1997)
   
  Note:
With China and Britain the fatality statistics represent deaths within one week of the accident. For South Korea it is within 72 hours, Germany, the United States and Japan within 30 days, and France within 6 days.
Source:Ministry of Transport "2000 Transport White Paper"		   Source:
Compiled by the Ministry of Transport from the National Police Agency "Report on Traffic Statistics"

Column "Driving in the Aging Society"

In the past, elderly people have tended to be seen as being in a relatively weak position both in the economy and society in general. However, a large number of elderly people in good health are actively participating in society. In the transport area as well, we know that in recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in trips undertaken by elderly people. In terms of the mode of transport, the percentage of those trips made up of travel by car is on the rise and with the growing ratio of elderly people holding driving licenses this figure will undoubtedly increase further.

However, this also gives rise to concerns about traffic safety issues, in that while the total number of deaths caused by traffic accidents is falling, in recent years the number of people aged 65 or over who are killed in motor vehicles has greatly increased, and there is concern that in future there will be further increases in traffic accidents involving the death or injury of elderly people. In the report, it is warning to this problem in the "Driving in the Aging Society " which should come.

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