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(1) Land Transport
The Ministry of Transport carried out various projects, including the revision
of safety criteria for road vehicles, improvement of the compulsory automobile
inspection system, relief of traffic accident victims and improvement of railway
crossing safety facilities.
Also, the ministry, in a bid to improve the existing compulsory automobile
inspection and maintenance systems, introduced, effective in July 1983, new
systems, including an extension of the period required for initial compulsory
private passenger cars inspection to three years.
(2) Maritime Transport
The ministry consolidated safety measures from a viewpoint of operational
management, boosted safety criteria for shipping, improved traffic environment,
including water-breaks and shipping lanes, bolstered guidance in navigational
safety and beefed up rescue systems.
(3) Air Transport
The ministry improved systems for securing safety flight operations, and
aircraft inspection and maintenance systems, while it also stepped up guidance
in the prevention of air accidents and pushed study of steps to improve the
health control of flight crew.
(1) Acceleration of Countermeasures for Traffic Hazards
| (a) | Pollution by Automobiles The ministry pushed for expansion of control on exhaust gas, strengthening of control on noise and study on countermeasures for traffic hazards caused by spiked tyres. |
| (b) | Noise and Vibration by trains The ministry pushed countermeasures for noise and vibrations caused by Shinkansen Line trains. |
| (c) | Noise by Aircraft The ministry expedited steps to detect the sources of noise, improve airport structures and improve the environment in and around airports. |
(2) Prevention of Sea Pollution
The ministry pushed for steps to prevent seawater pollution in advance, and
also clean seawater. It also joined the "Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973."
The ministry pushed for countermeasures for prevention of ship disasters,
including the supply of materials with which to prevent the spread of oil leakage,
and assignment of high-performance chemical fire-fighting boats, while it expedited
measures to prevent accidents involving ship crew. As regards hotels and ryokan,
the ministry carried out guidance in the improvement of defective facilities.
(1) Increase of Conveniences by Use of Meteorological Information
In order to make timely meteorological information available, the Meteorological
Agency collects meteorological data from all over the country by means of stationary
satellites and radars, and also utilizes AMeDAS a regional weather observation
system, in responding to inquiries when necessary.
The agency is also pushing for the development of more elaborate forecast
services, including rain probability forecasts, as new type of weather forecast
services, and the improvement of the capability of forecasting courses of typhoons.
(2) Countermeasures for Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions
The agency is stepping up around-the-clock surveillance systems, including
the improvement of submarine seismographs, against tidal wave in preparation
for the possible Tokai Earthquake. It has also reduced the time for announcement
of tidal wave warning, from a lesson learned from the mid-Japan Sea Earthquake.
In regard to countermeasures for volcanic eruptions, the agency is pushing for
the improvement of observation systems.
(3) Countermeasures for Climatic Changes
The agency is proceeding with study of countermeasures by holding meetings
of the Climate-Related Problems Panel which is composed of men of knowledge
and experience.
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