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Japan recorded the third-lowest number of annual traffic fatalities since record-keeping began in 1948 with 2,663 in 2024, 15 fewer than in the previous year.

The number, according to data released by the National Police Agency on Jan. 7, continues a decades-long gradual decline.

Tokyo had the highest number of fatalities, 146, an increase of 10 from the previous year.

The capital was followed by Aichi Prefecture with 141 deaths, a decrease of four, and Chiba Prefecture with 131, an increase of four.

Shimane Prefecture had the fewest fatalities with only nine, 13 fewer than in 2023.

Despite the overall decrease, 22 prefectures reported an increase in traffic deaths compared to the previous year.

A concerning trend in the data is the rising proportion of elderly victims.

Preliminary figures show that 56.8 percent of people killed in traffic accidents were age 65 or over, the second highest percentage in the past decade.

Many of these deaths occurred while the elderly were either driving or walking.

In a positive development, March saw the lowest number of traffic fatalities of any month last year, with just 177 deaths, a decrease of 49 from March in 2023.

This is especially noteworthy, as March typically sees more than 200 fatalities due to increased travel during school holidays.

The NPA attributed the decline to successful countermeasures implemented by local police forces.

The government has set a goal of reducing traffic fatalities to no more than 2,000 by the end of this year.

While the number of deaths has been decreasing since the 1990s, dropping to a record low of 2,610 in 2022, recent years have seen progress hit a plateau.

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