title: Detailed discussion on evidence for the further prevention of traffic fatalities in Japan: a comparison of trends in three countries.
abstract: The total number of traffic fatalities has decreased in recent years. To further reduce the number of traffic fatalities, details regarding traffic fatalities and various aspects of traffic accidents must be studied. Therefore, this research examined the number of traffic fatalities by age group and the number of traffic fatalities by situation in Japan from 2003 to 2007, and the percentage of traffic fatalities by age group and the percentage of traffic fatalities by situation during the same period were calculated. In addition, aspects of traffic accidents in Japan were compared with those in Germany and France, and additional measures to counter traffic accidents that need to be taken in Japan in order to further reduce the number of traffic fatalities were studied. Results indicated that in each year of the period studied the highest percentage of traffic fatalities involved the 25-64 age group in Germany and France and the 65-or-over age group in recent years in Japan. In addition, additional measures to counter traffic accidents involving the elderly are needed in Japan, Germany and France. The percentage of traffic fatalities by situation indicated that attention should be paid to 'fatalities of pedestrians' in Japan and to 'fatalities of motor vehicle occupants' in all the three countries studied. In particular, measures to counter traffic accidents leading to 'fatalities of pedestrians' must be studied further in Japan. With the above findings in mind, bodies involved in implementing measures to counter traffic accidents must formulate specific measures.
authors: Department of Public Health, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. ke-inoue@fujita-hu.ac.jp
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Inoue
authors: Tatsushige
authors: T
authors: Fukunaga
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Okazaki
authors: Yoshitsugu
authors: Y
authors: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult