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Police in Tokyo have arrested a 39-year-old man on suspicion of reckless driving after a road rage incident in March.
According to police, Taiki Ishikawa was driving along Route 3 on the Shuto Expressway in Setagaya Ward at around 10 a.m. on March 14, when he crossed into the right lane, right in front of a truck, Fuji TV reported. The 44-year-old truck driver started honking his horn. After about three kilometers, Ishikawa stopped his car, forcing the truck driver to stop also.
Ishikawa then approached the truck driver and allegedly threatened him, saying, “Are you messing with me? No matter where you go, I’m going to find you and finish this.”
Police said Ishikawa has denied the charge, maintaining he just complained to the truck driver.
The truck driver noted the license plate number of Ishikawa’s car and reported the incident to police.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the number of reported road rage incidents between January and March this year was1,955 cases, 542 more than for the same period in 2017.
© Japan Today
15 Comments
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Disillusioned
There are many maniacs abusing other drivers on the roads. I've seen many and been on the receiving end of a couple as well. I had one mid-30's wanna-be Yakuza cut me off in his black Crown. I gave him a blast with the horn for being a Richard. He then swerved his car to block both lanes, got out of his car and started abusing me and calling me to get out of my car. I just sat there laughing at him and he kept up his abuse. It wasn't until I pointed at my in-car recorder and said, "Cheezu!" that he got back into his car and left. I took the footage to the cops and they were not in the slight bit interested. In fact, they told me to stop being a gaijin troublemaker. True! I posted it on YouTube, but it was removed because of faces and number plates. It's still on FaceBook though. Road rage, bullying, intimidation and using cars for weapons is very common in 'Safety Japan'.
Alistair Carnell
Wow, Disillusioned... I’ve had almost exactly the same experience, the description you give, matches the knob head that did the same to me. I didn’t have a dash cam though, and he’d unwittingly left a space for me to squeeze my car through. He then gave chase for about 10 minutes, until I screeched to a halt outside a big police ward office. He didn’t hang around long enough for me to call one of the police officers out, I can tell you.
Ben Youknowwho
I live in Osaka. It seems to be the Heartland of idiot drivers. The traffic lights turn red and 5 or more cars go anyway and block other cars with green (blue?!) Iights. Queuing across intersections etc.
I had a guy try to get me to rear end him when he was turning left. I wasn't that close and braked in time. He then stopped again and I beeped at him. He then chased me down and said "you were aggressive. Let's go to the police!" I told him to get lost and closed my window. He then had to drive off because he had no way to follow me.
They think they can extort money out of you when they do this? Not gonna happen with me. Choose another victim moron.
farhaan
Since there is no crime how can they arrest him just on the complaint of a truck driver. Yes truck driver. I drive everyday here and I know how most of the truck drivers are, they think that roads are just made for them to use.
thepersoniamnow
Benyouknowwho
Sorry you had such a negative experience here man. As a Japanese though, I agree that you should not have gone to the police.
In Japan the accuser has a lot more clout and the burden of negating it is often upon the accused. As a foreigner you have much less chance of being believed. Even as a Japanese who looks very foreign I unfortunately know this from experiences.
thepersoniamnow
Disillusioned
Blur the plates and faces and put it on youtube
GyGene
I'm trying to remember to sing my "Anti Road Rage" song, "Some beach, somewhere..."
Yuko Maeda
How's about including a psychological exam along with all the other components of obtaining a drivers license in Japan (regardless of citizenship when applying).
thepersoniamnow
Yuko Maeda
How about not having state issued psyche exams. Yikes
Ampas
Angry driver tells truck driver “Are you messing with me? No matter where you go, I’m going to find you and finish this.”
This is a national news story?
stepoutsidethebox
Sounds like TWO road rage incidents. Honking for 3km sounds like harassment. But also let me guess... The guy who merged did this: merged, 90% complete merging action, finish action, then look to see any vehicles are around them.
You need to be aware of cars in front of you, to the side and behind! And they are called indicators, not 'winkers'. We call them indicators because they are supposed to indicate what you are about to do. I promise if he had used his indicator, the truck would have given a little honk saying, hey buddy I am right here, don't merge yet.
kurisupisu
The police are not interested in proof of threatening or violent behavior when on dash cam or smart phones.
I wonder why?
8T
UHHHHH, Road rage? I don't think so.
mmwkdw
No leaping out of Cars brandishing Samurai swords ?
No Ninja kids climbing up the sides of the truck to deliver a fatal blow ?
Sounds like Japan hasn't even started upon the Rage Road Trip.