Skip to main content

Japan & NZ reveal road death statistics

Both countries are pledging to do more to reduce fatalities on their road network
By Mike Woof January 24, 2023 Read time: 1 min
In 2022, Japan saw lowest road death rate since these figures began to be compiled in 1948 (© Wisconsinart | Dreamstime.com)

The Japanese Government is pledging to improve the country’s road safety record. Official police data shows that 2,610 people were killed in road crashes in Japan during 2022.

This is a drop of just 26 from 2021 but is the lowest road death rate for Japan since these figures began to be compiled in 1948.

However, the Japanese Government intends to lower the country’s road crash fatalities further and is aiming to reduce the casualty rate to less than 2,000 per year by 2025.

The official figures for road crashes are compiled by Japan’s National Police Agency. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand saw road deaths climb to 378 for 2022, an increase of 60 from the figures for 2021.

New Zealand performs poorly in terms of road safety, with the country’s government aiming to improve this and reduce annual casualty rates.

This article was first published on World Highways

Related Content

  • It’s official: 20 (or 30) really is plenty
    April 30, 2025
    A study has looked at what 20mph (30 km/h) speed limits mean in terms of road safety – and the answers are encouraging. Alan Dron speaks to transport researcher Aud Tennøy…
  • Urgent action needed as drink-drive figures stall, says Brake
    August 5, 2016
    UK road safety charity Brake is calling on the government to take urgent action after figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show little change in the number of people killed because of drink-driving. Government figures reveal that the number of deaths involving a driver under the influence of alcohol was 240 in 2014. That figure has been consistently been reported since 2010 and looks set to continue if the provisional estimate for the 2015 figures proves to be accurate (200-290 killed).
  • Road deaths still not reducing, says PACTS
    August 5, 2016
    The road casualty statistics for Great Britain just released by the Department for Transport (DfT) are worrying in a number of ways, says the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS). They show no reduction in drink-drive deaths since 2010 – remaining at 240 deaths a year and no reduction in total road deaths and a two per cent increase in serious casualties in the past 12 months (to 31 March 2016). Seven police forces, including the largest ones, Metropolitan and Greater Manchester
  • Should it be end of the road for right-turns on red?
    April 10, 2024
    Banning right-hand turns after stopping for a red light is gaining momentum in the US. But the debate continues about whether it will result in fewer incidents between vehicles and alternative mobility users. David Arminas reports