TREND AND ISSUE OF REAR SEAT BELT USE IN JAPAN

Abstract

Road Traffic Act was amended on June in 2008, four-wheeled vehicle driver must drive to make rear seat occupant fasten seatbelt in Japan. On October in 2008, enforcement not to fasten rear seatbelt had started only on expressway. So, according to seatbelt usage social survey on road side carried out by Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and National Police Agency (NPA), rear seatbelt usage rate had increased more on expressway and surface streets just after Road Traffic Act was amended. It was estimated to reduce fatality and severely injury rate on rear seat with rising rear seatbelt use rate. And it was calculated that about 500 fatalities and severely injuries on rear seat had decreased. To calculate attribute of rear seatbelt use lower rate, the rates on accidents of young age and male are low a little. Rear seatbelt use rates on accidents in taxi, hired car, heavy vehicle and the rates of which driver does not fasten seatbelt is very low.