Driver running red light hits and kills 7-year-old boy on kick scooter

Agree with the above post, although it may not be applicable in this case.

In Japan yellow means hit it hard, and if a light has just turned red, it’s still open if the vehicles momentum is high enough. For a nation that arrests you after you hit someone and has very strict laws, you would think people would be more scared to drive that way.

Two lives destroyed in a heartbeat of bad judgement. Sad story. May the lad rest in peace and the man find peace before, he too, leaves this unpredictable place albeit that moment of horror will almost certainly revisit him during his own departure.

Every day, at every signal I stop at, there is st least one car that is passing through the intersection after their light has turned red. I’m not exaggerating. Sometimes we’ll after. Sickening that the police, instead of actively enforcing the road rules, actually hide in the dark late at night waiting for someone to not come to a full stop at a stop sign in the middle of nowhere (personal experience).

sadly, it’s just a matter of when, and not if, this kind of tragedy happens.

At the main intersection where I commute, normally 2, 3 or 4 cars go thru the red after it's changed. This is also a school route, so many of the pedestrians set to cross the road are children. A police box is a block away, where the officer sits alone looking bored staring at the wall.

If it’s safe, I go through orange lights because my dog doesn’t have a seat belt, if it’s safe. Always stop at red.

But when I go to big cities, I’m in total shock. Usually about 3 cars go through Red lights. Also motorbikes go through red lights before they turn green.

One of the reasons so many cars drive through the just turned red signal is that there's hardly any chance a cop is nearby to stop and give you a ticket.

This was one of the thoughts that used to scare me enough not to risk it back in my home country.

Not saying it's the kid's fault but I'll bet vital parts of my anatomy that the kid was not wearing a helmet. He might still be alive if he was.

What's with seniors and their stubbornness to remain behind the wheel after the age of 60? Yet another kid killed by the selfishness of a man baby who refused to let go of their 'right to drive'. I hope a harsh sentence is given.

@Disillusioned.

you are wrong. At the speed this guy was going to run the red, when he hit the lad it would have literally knocked the ghost right out of him. He would have been dead before he’d stopped rolling. Helmet or not.

this deadbeat needs locking up for the rest of his natural life.

He didn't notice the light had turned red! If that isn't bad enough, obviously he also didn't see the child in the crosswalk. His two extremely careless misses cost someone their life. RIP to the young child.

MumbaiRocks!Today  10:53 am JST

Teach your kids to wait a few seconds even if cross light is green. 

I was told that as a kid too. You never know when some yo-yo might be speeding up before you see them.

7 years old and his life snuffed out. Damn, this is horrible. RIP Kid. You never really lived.

I have nearly hit or have been hit by cars when I was not paying attention, listening to earphones, and just going on the green pedestrian light on a bicycle, walking, or jogging.

I’ve learned since then, but since cars do that so often, it’s one of the dangerous parts of the road here.

listening to earphones

that alone is enough to cause accidents. Smart phones are another.

When you’re outside you should use all your senses to stay alert for any danger.

starpunk:

I was told that as a kid too. You never know when some yo-yo might be speeding up before you see them.

Of course. Even I wait a while and then I make sure the car has slowed down.

Disillusioned:

Not saying it's the kid's fault but I'll bet vital parts of my anatomy that the kid was not wearing a helmet. He might still be alive if he was.

Er, given he was 7 and riding on a kick scooter, I doubt very much he was riding on the road. The clue is here:

the boy was crossing the street on his kick scooter

Are you telling me all pedestrians should be wearing helmets too?

A recent story was about fixing unnecessary gadgets in school buses. May I suggest cameras that take photos of any car going through a red light and the system is automated(less burocracy) and they get a ¥20.000 fine.

Watch how driving improves over night.

Running through red lights is a habitual act perpetrated by all, young and old here in Japan. It is an accepted norm. So much so that the delay in the change between red and green (blue) lights is purposely extended to accommodate red light runners. IMHO... it is due to the lack of enforcement and complacency of the police which ultimately falls on the shoulders of the government. This lack of enforcement has been going on for generations... hence the complete acceptance that it is just the way people drive. One should never take for granted that the way is clear when on green. Especially when it is the turn right green arrow. Intersections are by far the most dangerous place to be when driving. And that's even when all are driving properly and lawfully.

S

How sad, RIP little one.

@Padraig Bohannan

you are wrong. At the speed this guy was going to run the 2red, when he hit the lad it would have literally knocked the ghost right out of him. He would have been dead before he’d stopped rolling. Helmet or not.

Can you let me know what article you read? This one doesn't seem to mention the speed he was going?

I complain to the police all the time about the dangerous driving in my neighborhood. Their solution is to standout in the middle of the street and wave and blow their whistles. Seriously.

My deepest sympathy to the Family of this young boy.

Sadly, as the driver is a "Construction worker", a Civil case to sue him will yield little...

As for the excuse that he "Didn't notice"... !!!??

Watching his "keitei" perhaps rather than the road ? Clearly he is unfit to hold a Driving license "Permanently" (perhaps).

It should be Compulsory for all vehicles to be fitted with Cam-recorders, and indeed likewise for crossings.

Is Kazuhiro colour blind? Or does he see red and thinks red is green? If he cannot proof without a doubt that he is colour blind and when he sees red his brain thinks it is green, the judge would be well advised to sentence him to seventy years in prison.

@james

Can you let me know what article you read? This one doesn't seem to mention the speed he was going?

No, it doesn't. but as has been said, he was probably racing the amber light. and has also been said that there is a long time between the light changes. So he definitely went through a red.

And.... for this to happen on a crossing is unforgivable. These are supposed to be safe places for folk to cross.

And... the poor lad is dead. How fast do you think you need to be going for that to happen? The poor lad was probably barely taller than the front of the car.

I guess you're trying to find an excuse for the guy. I wonder why?

Ohh he knew that the light was red he just want to ignore it