 |
|
 |
|
|
Stay Informed and Stay Involved!
Report from Japan
Japan is one of the few countries outside the former British Empire to drive on the left. An informal practice of left-hand passage dates at least to the Edo period, when samurai are said to have passed each other to the left in order to avoid knocking swords with each other (as swords were always worn to the left side). During the late 1800s, Japan built its first railways with British technical assistance, and double-tracked railways adopted the British practice of running on the left. However, army troops were ordered to keep to the right while travelling on roads, creating a double standard that was not legally resolved until 1924, when all road travel in Japan switched to the left.[15]
After the defeat of Japan during World War II, Okinawa was occupied by the United States and made to drive on the right side. Okinawa changed back to driving on the left when it was returned to Japan. The change took place at 06:00 on 30 July 1978. It is one of very few places to have changed from right to left hand traffic in the late twentieth century.
In Japan, foreign cars sold locally have traditionally been LHD, which is regarded as exotic or a status symbol. This even applies to British brands (although cars for the British market have the steering wheel on the right), in part because many have been imported via the US. Many tollbooths in Japan have a special lane for LHD vehicles.
Those who import vehicles from Japan know that there is an extensive number of LHD units in Japan and are driven on the same roads as the RHD units. Out of curiosity I approach Japan to ask, since they have a much greater number of LHD units operating on RHD roads what the accident statistics were. This is the response I received from Japan:
Wayne,
This is the most famous, and said as "Official released, and reliable
data, statistic for Traffic accident in Japan".
You need install Japanese language plug-in files When you read this file
on ADOBE ACROBAT reader, and Your windows OS P/C.
http://www.npa.go.jp/toukei/koutuu35/20061228.pdf
The total volume is 39 pages, so I can't translate this data in details,
but If you can read it, You can easily understand that "THERE IS NO
ISSUE RELATED TO "LHD AND RHD ISSUE", any page, any words in all pages.
This data is researched by All Traffic accident reports, coming from
Each Prefecture Police department office, so We can see all accident
statistics on this document.
Shows The number of Accident In Tokyo, Osaka, and of course All
prefectures in Japan.
And Explains in details about and Categorized by The Reason of "Traffic
accident", Like "Drinking", "Talking on phone", etc...
Never occurs LHD.. in this document.
I then asked about the insurance rates for the LHD units vs. the RHD units operating on Japan's roadways. This is the answer that came back:
Wayne
This is the data, The numbers of Registered Car in Japan , until
September 2006.
http://www.mlit.go.jp/toukeijouhou/toukei06/sokuhou/car_possession/images/car_possession06_09.pdf
Officially released by Japan MOT
This paper shows What kinds of cars, registered in Japan officially and
legally, the total numbers and Classed by Category, and Purposes.
This statistics shows that "There is no class, and category for RHD or
LHD".
and I recommend you to check again the De-registered file of the Japan
car. The document doesn't say any about "LHD or RHD".
This means that "They recognized no difference on accident risks between
RHD and LHD".
All the insurance company decide "How much is the insurance fee" by The
Registration paper of the car, and How many years old of the Driver, for
the car, They don't ask any of LHD and RHD, and The Insurance policy
document has no class, category about "Handle positions".
This means that It is not recognized as a important factor for
"Traffic Accident", LHD or RHD.
What this proves is that although there are many more units on Japan highways there is no discrimination between LHD and RHD. The insurance companies in Japan realised that it is not the unit that is causing any accidents but the drivers that do.
Very interesting is there is no year restriction on importation into Japan. The units must pass a stringent emission testing and have minor changes made to the units. Head lights being the main one.
In conclusion, I feel that until Transport Canada can PROVE that RHD units on LHD highways are much more dangerous than the LHD units on LHD roads they have no basis to change the importing rules.
Back to top of page
|
|
|
|
|
