Top �� Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister

(Provisional Translation)

Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (Chairman of the Central Traffic Safety Policy Council) on Achieving a Reduction to Half the Number of Annual Traffic Accident Fatalities

January 2, 2003

The number of fatalities from traffic accidents in the last year was 8,326. We have finally achieved a reduction to half the 16,765 fatalities from traffic accidents in 1970, an age which was called "Traffic War." Furthermore, it is projected that for the first time in twelve years, we will see a reduction in the number of traffic accidents and the number of people injured. Although many lives continue to be lost in traffic accidents, the reduction to half the number of annual traffic accident fatalities was the result of the efforts of many people in the Government, in local governments and in our communities over many years. While there was an overall reduction in the number of fatalities from traffic accidents, the relative portion of elderly persons in the total number of fatalities is extremely high. Considering that our nation will soon become a truly aging society, it is imperative that we take a focused approach to traffic safety measures for the elderly. In greeting the New Year, I am firmly resolved to achieve a further halving in the number of fatalities from traffic accidents during the next decade. If we can achieve this goal, our nation will become the safest nation in the world in terms of road traffic. With that goal in mind, the Government is determined to do its utmost to create a safe and smooth road traffic environment, including making efforts to promote road safety education. Although achieving this goal will be no easy task, I call upon the Government and the people to unite and work together to build a road traffic environment that is "the safest in the world." In this, I call upon the people of our nation for their understanding and support.