Japan halves speed limit to 30km/h on all narrow city streets

Japan has reduced the speed limit on narrow residential streets from 60km/h to 30km/h to improve pedestrian safety. The policy aims to protect vulnerable groups like children and the elderly, following successful pilot programs.
Why it matters
Urban planning and traffic regulation changes are critical for reducing pedestrian fatalities in densely populated cities.
Narrow roads with no pavements are a common sight in crowded Japanese cities, with data indicating that children and older people are at particular risk of being involved in serious accidents. Narrow roads with no pavements are a common sight in crowded Japanese cities, with data indicating that children and older people are at particular risk of being involved in serious accidents. Japan Japan halves speed limit to 30km/h on all narrow city streets Speed limit dropped from 60km/h for around 70% of general roads in the hope of making narrow streets of crowded cities safer
Prefer the Guardian on Google Drivers on residential roads in Japan have been forced to take their foot off the accelerator, after the speed limit was slashed from 60km/h (37mph) to 30km/h in an attempt to reduce deaths and injuries among pedestrians on narrow urban streets.
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