A series of high-profile accidents involving foreign drivers has prompted Japanese authorities to re-evaluate a decades-old system that allows overseas licence holders to obtain a local driving permit with minimal testing – a move experts say is long overdue as Japan sees a surge in inbound tourism and immigration.
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Since 1993, foreigners holding a valid driving licence from their home countries have been allowed to convert it to a Japanese licence by answering just seven out of 10 questions on a multiple-choice exam correctly. No practical driving test or mandatory training is required under the current rules.
The ease of the process has drawn renewed scrutiny in the wake of recent fatal and dangerous incidents. Tokyo Broadcasting System reported that Manabu Sakai, who heads the National Public Safety Commission, admitted in a parliamentary session in March that “the written test is simple, even in my opinion”.
While Japan’s roads are widely regarded as safe, challenges abound for newcomers – from navigating densely populated urban streets to adjusting to left-hand driving and unfamiliar signage. And when mistakes are made, the consequences can be deadly.
In January, police in Yokohama arrested a Turkish man who was driving a large truck but struck an elderly woman on a bicycle at a crossing. The 73-year-old woman was killed and the driver has been charged with her death.
On Sunday, a Peruvian man was caught on security cameras driving for about 10km on the wrong side of a motorway in Mie prefecture, in central Japan. As the man’s car drove into the oncoming traffic, other vehicles were forced to take evasive action, causing a number of collisions.
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The man reported to a police station after the incident attracted extensive media coverage. He has been charged with dangerous driving and causing damage to other vehicles.
Three days earlier, a Thai man was arrested in Ibaraki prefecture, in northeast Japan, on suspicion of driving a light van under the influence of alcohol. The man had reportedly crashed into a road sign and turned over.