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On January 17, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 59th Central Meeting of the National Traffic Safety Campaign held in Tokyo in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino.
 
After delivering an address, the Prime Minister presented awards to the top winners of the contest for the yearlong slogan for traffic safety and the family essay contest on traffic safety.
 
The Prime Minister said in his address,
 
“Today, upon the opening of the 59th Central Meeting of the National Traffic Safety Campaign in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino, I would like to say a few words on behalf of the Government.
 
I offer my congratulations to all the award winners, and extend my sincere respect for the tremendous amount of efforts you make every day.
 
The number of traffic accident fatalities last year was the lowest number of accidents since we started keeping statistics in 1948. This is truly the result of the long-term efforts of all of the people who have been working on the improvement of traffic safety in their communities and workplaces, and I would like to again express my appreciation.
 
Meanwhile, anyone can still become involved in a traffic accident, making them an intimate and constant problem for all citizens. Even now, many precious lives are being lost to traffic accidents, including children who will shoulder the coming era. I feel unbearable grief when I think regretfully of those who perished and the deep sadness of their families.
 
To realize a safe and secure society free of traffic accidents, it is important that the Government, local governments, relevant private organizations and volunteers, and the rest of the people continue to join forces to work on this issue.
 
In order to realize the safest road traffic in the world, the Government will continue to strengthen public-private initiatives, focusing on the safety of children and the elderly and the prevention of traffic accidents by elderly drivers, and firmly advance various measures to improve road traffic conditions, such as using advanced technologies more actively and promoting them more widely as well as securing safe and secure pedestrian spaces, along with raising public awareness on traffic safety and improving traffic manners.
 
I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my hopes for even further success in your endeavors.”