JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) has released the results of its “Nationwide Survey on Drivers’ Compliance with the Stop Requirement When Pedestrians Cross at Crosswalks Without Traffic Lights,” which was conducted from May 11 to June 30.
This survey was conducted at 94 crosswalks nationwide that do not have traffic signals, and surveyed 5,998 passing vehicles. The results showed that 3,662 vehicles (61.1%) came to a complete stop when pedestrians were attempting to cross, marking the highest stop rate on record.
The stop rate increased by 4.4 percentage points compared to the previous year’s survey, with rises recorded in 37 prefectures. This figure is approximately eight times higher than the 7.6% recorded in 2016, when the survey began. On the other hand, approximately 40% of vehicles still fail to stop, highlighting the challenges involved in ensuring that pedestrians are given priority.
The Road Traffic Act stipulates that “pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks”; therefore, if a pedestrian is about to cross a crosswalk, drivers must come to a complete stop immediately before it and ensure they do not obstruct the pedestrian’s passage. Furthermore, the Act urges drivers to slow down to a speed at which they can stop if it is not clear that no pedestrian is about to cross.
© Source travel watch