The National Police Agency said Wednesday it would try to achieve the world's best traffic safety by introducing comprehensive safety education and reviewing licensing requirements for elderly drivers.
In its 2005 white paper, the NPA said Japan's traffic death rate per capita will be the lowest of about 30 countries if it succeeds in achieving the government's target of reducing traffic deaths to fewer than 5,000 a year.
The number of people killed in traffic accidents nationwide across Japan dropped 4.5 percent in 2004 from the previous year to a 48-year low of 7,358, according to the NPA. Of the victims, 3,046, or 41.4 percent, were aged 65 and older.