The National Police Agency unveiled a new initiative on Thursday to halve the speed limit on narrow roads in residential areas from the current 60 kilometer per hour to 30 kph with the aim of enhancing pedestrian safety.
Following a period of public hearings, the agency aims to have the Road Traffic Act and other relevant regulations revised and the changes put into practice by September 2026.
The proposed amendment will retain the current 60 kph limit on roads with a centerline or multiple lanes while reducing the limit on roads without a centerline to 30 kph. Drivers on roads with specific speed limit signs will continue to observe those limits.
Studies indicate that the likelihood of fatal injuries to pedestrians increases significantly when vehicle speeds exceed 30 kph, the NPA said. Consequently, an NPA expert panel recommended reducing speed limits for roads commonly used by pedestrians to 30 kph or lower.
The agency has been promoting “Zone 30” initiatives, which restrict speeds to 30 kph in designated zones, mainly residential areas, and is now moving toward a more comprehensive revision of speed regulations. But the difficulty of putting up speed limit signs on all residential roads have meant that some of these continue to have a 60kph limit.
In addition to the speed limit changes, the agency is also adjusting regulations for pedestrian crossings.
The maximum allowable distance between the white lines at crossings will increase from the current 45 to 50 centimeters to 90 centimeters to widen the gaps between them. This change is designed to help drivers avoid ruts and improve the durability — and visibility — of road markings. The updated system is expected to be in place by the end of July this year.
I love it
This honestly sounds amazing. I have to comment twice
anything to prevent an efficient society. Max pedestrian safety would be gotten by placing concrete walls every 20 m, preventing any cars from driving at all.
Most accidents that I see in the media are from people who aren’t paying attention on the highways, drunks, old people etc. I don’t see a lot of “I was doing 60 on a narrow road, and somebody stepped in front of the car”
Please educate me if I am wrong…
What a weird article. Most residential areas, particularly such as that shown in the image, in the prefecture where I live already have speed limits of 40kph at max but more commonly 30kph.
Misleading click bait title. Got me though. There are VERY few narrow residential roads with 60KPH limits.
I have seen a lot of places in Yamanashi where I indeed thought that 60 was way too high
I’ve only ever seen 20 – 30 kph max on single lane residential (commercial) roads. There are rarely even speed signs.
Maybe more speed bumps would help like they have in other countries.
Just test the elderly more frequently as all of these car related incidents seem to be people over 70+ causing them.
Okinawa has few roads over ( if any?) 50 kmph other than E58 to start with
Test the elders, don’t penalize everyone for their mistakes
12 comments
**For those outside the paywall:**
The National Police Agency unveiled a new initiative on Thursday to halve the speed limit on narrow roads in residential areas from the current 60 kilometer per hour to 30 kph with the aim of enhancing pedestrian safety.
Following a period of public hearings, the agency aims to have the Road Traffic Act and other relevant regulations revised and the changes put into practice by September 2026.
The proposed amendment will retain the current 60 kph limit on roads with a centerline or multiple lanes while reducing the limit on roads without a centerline to 30 kph. Drivers on roads with specific speed limit signs will continue to observe those limits.
Studies indicate that the likelihood of fatal injuries to pedestrians increases significantly when vehicle speeds exceed 30 kph, the NPA said. Consequently, an NPA expert panel recommended reducing speed limits for roads commonly used by pedestrians to 30 kph or lower.
The agency has been promoting “Zone 30” initiatives, which restrict speeds to 30 kph in designated zones, mainly residential areas, and is now moving toward a more comprehensive revision of speed regulations. But the difficulty of putting up speed limit signs on all residential roads have meant that some of these continue to have a 60kph limit.
In addition to the speed limit changes, the agency is also adjusting regulations for pedestrian crossings.
The maximum allowable distance between the white lines at crossings will increase from the current 45 to 50 centimeters to 90 centimeters to widen the gaps between them. This change is designed to help drivers avoid ruts and improve the durability — and visibility — of road markings. The updated system is expected to be in place by the end of July this year.
I love it
This honestly sounds amazing. I have to comment twice
anything to prevent an efficient society. Max pedestrian safety would be gotten by placing concrete walls every 20 m, preventing any cars from driving at all.
Most accidents that I see in the media are from people who aren’t paying attention on the highways, drunks, old people etc. I don’t see a lot of “I was doing 60 on a narrow road, and somebody stepped in front of the car”
Please educate me if I am wrong…
What a weird article. Most residential areas, particularly such as that shown in the image, in the prefecture where I live already have speed limits of 40kph at max but more commonly 30kph.
Misleading click bait title. Got me though. There are VERY few narrow residential roads with 60KPH limits.
I have seen a lot of places in Yamanashi where I indeed thought that 60 was way too high
I’ve only ever seen 20 – 30 kph max on single lane residential (commercial) roads. There are rarely even speed signs.
Maybe more speed bumps would help like they have in other countries.
Just test the elderly more frequently as all of these car related incidents seem to be people over 70+ causing them.
Okinawa has few roads over ( if any?) 50 kmph other than E58 to start with
Test the elders, don’t penalize everyone for their mistakes