In Japan, a driving license is necessary while driving or operating an automobile, motorcycle or moped on public roads. prefectural governments’ public safety commissions issues the driving licenses and are checked and examined by the National Police Agency on a nationwide basis.

Japan’s large metropolitan areas in the region of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya are served by extremely well-organized public transportation systems. Consequently, many residents do not own a car or even a driver’s license. Outside the big cities, however, public transportation tends to be inconvenient, and most people rely on a car.The typical speed limits are 80 to 100 km/h on expressways, 40 km/h in urban areas, 30 km/h in side streets and 50 to 60 km/h elsewhere. Drivers usually exceed the speed limits by about 10 km/h.

Drivers generally tend to be well mannered and caring. Some dangers on Japanese roads comprise drivers speeding over intersections despite the traffic light turning red, people stopping their vehicles at the edge of the street in a way in which they block traffic, and cyclists driving on the wrong side of the road.

Road crashes are the solitary major killer of 15-24 year-olds in industrial countries. Young drivers are not just a danger to themselves; they also cause a greater risk to their passengers and other road users.  Crash death rates for drivers under 25 are roughly double those of older drivers. The answer lies in a lethal mixture of age, inexperience and gender. Lack of experience is noticed in all new drivers, irrespective of their age. But physical and emotional immaturity and the lifestyles associated with youth also increase risk. And young men are particularly both the source of, and victims of traffic safety risk.

The average age of a taxi driver in Japan is 57.5, which is a good number. This fidgure ensures that the passengers are safely carried from one place to another when their lives are in the hands of experienced drivers.

It is important to look at the road safety aspects of public policy decisions that are not directly related to road safety in areas such as availability and cost of public transport, the costs of operating a vehicle, the availability of parking at schools and other areas frequented by young people, the availability of alcohol to young people, and the locations of bars and discos.