…because drivers are being distracted by their smart phones while driving. How “smart” are those phones now? People really are becoming dumber in direct proportion to the increasing use of technologies.
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Source: NHK
‘Distracted driving’ causes record number of deaths, serious injuries in Japan
March 7, 2024
Japan’s National Police Agency says the number of “distracted driving” accidents that resulted in fatal or serious injuries reached a record high last year.
The police agency says 887 accidents in 2023 were caused by distracted drivers using a mobile phone or other electronic device.
It says 25 accidents were fatal and 97 resulted in serious injuries. The combined figure of 122 is the highest since record-keeping began in 2007.
The ratio of fatal accidents caused by distracted driving was 3.8 times the figure for those with other causes.
The agency says drivers using electronic devices tend to be late in detecting or avoiding danger, leading to serious consequences in many cases.
Five years ago, Japan changed a law to impose heavier penalties for using smartphones and other mobile devices while driving vehicles. The number of fatal accidents temporarily decreased before it started to rise again.
National Police Agency Commissioner General Tsuyuki Yasuhiro said on Thursday that driving while using a mobile phone is extremely dangerous, and the possibility of a fatal accident is nearly four times greater.
He urged people not to talk on the phone or look at screens while driving vehicles.
Tokyo Streets From a bd-1 