Dear Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Akihiro Ota,
I recently attended the induction ceremony for one of my children at a local elementary school. We listened to various speeches, one of which was of particular interest: A traffic police officer spoke at length about the hazards faced by children as they travel to and from school.
He mentioned the fact that Nagoya drivers are notorious for disobeying traffic laws and generally being discourteous (Aichi is often cited as one of the worst prefectures in Japan for road accidents). The officer went on to explain that drivers often use cell phones, read paraphernalia and generally drive recklessly, paying little or no heed to traffic signs. This is readily apparent as I see drivers speed past our front gate at speeds that wouldn't be permitted on the highway. Our house is situated on an otherwise quiet back street.