In 2023, traffic fatalities in Japan slightly increased to 2,678, the first rise in eight years. This happened after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and people returned to driving. While this number was still the third lowest since records started in 1948, it makes it harder for the government to reach its goal of reducing annual deaths to below 2,000 by 2025.
Overall, traffic accidents rose by 7,072 to 307,911, and people injured in accidents also increased to 365,027, up by 8,426.
By region, Osaka had the highest number of traffic deaths with 148, followed by Aichi with 145, and Tokyo with 136. Saga Prefecture had the fewest fatalities with just 13. The national average was 2.14 deaths per 100,000 people, with Tokushima having the highest at 3.98 and Tokyo the lowest at 0.97.
In the 1950s, traffic deaths in Japan sharply increased as car use grew, peaking at 16,765 in 1970. Safety measures like seatbelt laws in the 1980s and airbags in the 1990s helped reduce fatalities. More recently, safety technologies like collision avoidance and lane departure prevention systems have further improved safety. The use of dashcams is also believed to encourage safer driving.
Among age groups, traffic deaths for people aged 65 and older decreased slightly but still accounted for 54.7% of all traffic deaths, showing the need for more measures to protect seniors.
