A minivan driven by an epileptic man crashed into pedestrians on a street in Kyoto's popular Gion tourist district April 12, killing two men and five women, and injuring 11 others. The 30-year-old driver also died. He apparently suffered an epileptic attack while he was driving.
The Kyoto incident followed a similar incident in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, in April 2011. A man driving a crane vehicle suffered an epileptic fit while driving, mowing down and killing six elementary school pupils. The man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for negligent driving resulting in deaths and injury.
In view of these incidents, it is necessary for those concerned — including survivors, relatives of the victims, doctors, representatives from associations that represent epileptic patients, police representatives and officials from the justice and health and welfare ministries — to start discussing creation of an appropriate driver's license system for epileptics. In the discussions, utmost care must be taken so as not to foment prejudice against epileptics.