Last year, in Tokyo, where the number of fatalities due to traffic accidents was the highest in Japan for the first time in 53 years, a police officer was dispatched to crack down on traffic violations before the end of the year when the number of accidents increased.
The 22nd sunrise ceremony was held at Meiji Jingu Gaien in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, and more than 70 people including members of the Metropolitan Police Department Transportation Task Force participated.
First, after Tomoyuki Hayakawa, the director of the transportation department, advised that "I want you to keep the safety of the citizens of Tokyo without overlooking malicious and dangerous driving," police cars and police motorcycles were dispatched one after another.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the total number of people who died in traffic accidents in Tokyo last year was 155, the highest number in Japan for the first time in 53 years.
In particular, 22 people died in December, mainly elderly pedestrians.
The Metropolitan Police Department says that the background is that the traffic volume has decreased due to the influence of the new coronavirus and many cars are speeding up, and it is decided to strengthen the crackdown on speed violations toward the end of the year when accidents increase.
Masaki Kouto, director of the Transportation and General Affairs Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, said, "Last year, the number of fatal accidents increased toward the end of the year, so we would like to prevent accidents by strengthening the crackdown on the streets."