Chapter　7　 Promotion of Safety Measures in Transport Activities

7. 1　Securing of Traffic Safety

　 　The Ministry of Transport annually draws up safety plans for transport businesses to ensure traffic safety as the base of transport administration, and promotes safety measures for transport. (Fig. 15(1) (2) (3) (4)
　 　As for safety in air transport, in particular, the Ministry investigated the cause of the accident of the JAL jetliner in August 1985, and immediately confirmed the safety of other planes of the same type by conducting thorough checks on them. While instructing the air companies concerned to step up checks on the structure of planes and improve the design of their tails, the Ministry strongly urged all air companies to further improve their operation and maintenance systems.

7. 2　Environmental Protection

　 　The Ministry of Transport has taken various anti-disaster and environmental protection measures. As for anti-disaster measures, the Ministry has drawn up an action plan for anti-disaster, strengthened weather observation and forecasting systems, and improved monitoring systems for earthquakes and volcanic activities. Thus, the Ministry promotes anti-disaster measures for transport systems.
　 　On November 21, 1986, a major eruption occurred in Izu Oshima, and caused a critical situation. In an overnight evacuation operation using patrol vessels of the Maritime Safety Agency, private passenger liners and other vessels, islanders were able to leave the island before daybreak. Volcanic activities are still being monitored, and constant vigilance is being maintained in Izu Oshima.

7. 3　Weather and Socio-Economic Activities

　 　Weather has a great effect on socio-economic activities. Weather information is of course important to our daily life. As the scope of socioeconomic activities expands, businesses have become eager to obtain weather information so as to minimize risks that may be caused by weather conditions. Thus, needs for weather information are becoming diversified and sophisticated. (Table 3)
　 　In the form of supplementing activities of the Meteorological Agency, weather information service organizations (at present, 15 companies including Japan Weather Association (Inc.) and private companies), process and provide, by such measures as telephone or telephone facsimile, weather information which meets the specific needs of users.
　 　To ensure that these service companies provide accurate and appropriate information, the Meteorological Agency supplies them with necessary data, and gives instructions to the newly established Users' Panel on Meteorological Data Application (membership: business firms and weather information service organizations) to promote the provision of weather information that meets users' needs.