By DAICHI ITAKURA/ Staff Writer
June 13, 2025 at 18:52 JST
Yoshinobu Kusunoki, head of the National Police Agency, speaks to traffic police chiefs from across the country on June 10 in Tokyo. (Daichi Itakura)
Traffic accidents involving foreign drivers in Japan surged by 30 percent over the past five years and reached 7,286 in 2024, according to National Police Agency data.
The incidents last year included 54 fatal accidents and 486 resulting in serious injuries, the NPA said.
The increase came as the number of foreign residents holding Japanese driver’s licenses hit a record high of 1.25 million by the end of last year.
NPA Commissioner General Yoshinobu Kusunoki on June 10 urged prefectural traffic department chiefs to enhance traffic safety education and awareness campaigns aimed at international drivers.
“It is essential to promote understanding not only of Japan’s traffic laws but also of driving etiquette practiced here,” he said.
While 90 percent of foreign drivers involved in accidents last year held valid Japanese licenses, 3.6 percent were driving without a license or with invalid credentials, while 3.1 percent were using international driving permits.
By nationality, Chinese drivers topped the list with 1,697 accidents, followed by Koreans with 1,227 and Brazilians with 1,065.
Many accidents involved drivers who obtained Japanese licenses through the conversion of their valid home-country license.
Critics argue the conversion process, which involves a true-or-false test and road test, doesn’t sufficiently assess applicants’ traffic knowledge.
The NPA is currently reviewing this system to ensure it meets safety standards.
The number of non-Japanese drivers is expected to continue rising. The government recently expanded its Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker visa program to include the transport and delivery industry.
Kusunoki emphasized the need for companies hiring foreign drivers to strengthen safety training and oversight.
He also called for a stricter crackdown on illegally operated taxis driven by drivers from overseas.
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