(1) Occurrence of traffic accidents
  Fig. 1-3-1-1 shows the number of traffic accidents and the number of persons killed or injured in those accidents since 1946.
  The number of persons killed has been on the decline since 1993. In 2005, it was below 7,000 for the first time in 49 years since 1956, and in 2006 it further declined.
  The number of traffic accidents and the number of persons injured in traffic accidents both have remained at a high level since 2000, however in 2005 and 2006 there consecutively was a decrease from the previous year (see Appendix 1-5).

Fig. 1-3-1-1  Number of traffic accidents, persons killed or injured in traffic accidents (1946-2006)

(2) Dangerous driving causing death or injury and negligence in the pursuit of social activities in traffic accidents
  The number of persons cleared for dangerous driving causing death or injury was 380 (up by 36.2% from the previous year), and that for negligence in the pursuit of social activities in traffic accidents was 856,728 (down by 3.9% (id.)) in 2006 (see Table 1-1-1-2 of Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 1). Among these, persons cleared for dangerous driving causing death were 60 (up by 15.4% (id.)), those for causing death through negligence in the pursuit of social activities were 5,458 (down by 6.1% (id.)), and those for causing death through negligence (including causing death through gross negligence) were 39 (down by 41.8% (id.)) in 2006 (Source: The Traffic Bureau, National Police Agency).
  Fig. 1-3-1-2 shows the trends (over the last 10 years) in the number and the clearance rate for hit-and-run cases (referring to cases of breach of duty to carry out first-aid pertaining to road traffic accidents causing death or injury; hereinafter the same in this section.).

Fig.1-3-1-2  Number and the clearance rate for hit-and-run cases (1997-2006)

  The number of hit-and-run cases, which had increased significantly since 2000, decreased by 1,294 (6.6%) from the previous year in 2006, but it still maintains a considerably high level. The clearance rate rose by 3.3 points from the previous year in 2006.

(3) Violations of road traffic related acts
  The total number of cases cracked down upon due to violations of road traffic related acts remained at around 8 million in recent years, including the number of notified cases (of non-penal offenses under) the traffic violation notification system (hereinafter referred to as the “number of notified cases” in this sub-section.) and the number of cases referred to public prosecutors offices as penal offenses (hereinafter referred to as the “number of referred cases” in this sub-section.), and it was 8,587,556 (down by 4.1% from the previous year) in 2006 (Source: The Traffic Bureau, National Police Agency)
  Fig. 1-3-1-3 shows the percent distribution of the number of cases cracked down on due to violations of road traffic related acts by type of violations divided into the notified cases and the referred cases in 2006.

Fig. 1-3-1-3  Percent distribution of violations of road traffic related acts by type of violations (2006)

  Among violations of road traffic related acts, looking at the number of notified cases by type of violations, excessive speed was the largest in number, followed by illegal stopping/parking, and failing to stop temporarily. Meanwhile, looking at the number of referred cases by type of violations, excessive speed had the largest share, followed by driving while slightly drunk/driving while intoxicated, and driving without a license in that order.