Japan enacts law to impose tougher penalties for road rage incidents

"which includes aggressive tailgating, horn use and sudden braking meant to hamper driving of other vehicles"

Horn use? Far less an issue than tailgating and sudden braking!

and how about those noisy “Bosozoku”? Please revoke their drivers licenses when they terrorize our neighbourhoods

Aren’t they a form of Road Rage too?

"The motorist had become enraged after being warned by the driver of the victims' car about the way he had parked at an expressway parking area just before the incident."

This guy felt the need to kill after being told the equivalent of "hey man, your parking game needs work"?

"Driving that causes "extreme danger," including forcing another vehicle to stop on expressways and incidents judged to constitute near-collisions on local roads, will bring up to five years in jail or a maximum 1 million yen fine."

That's still weak, it needs more teeth to discourage ignorant hard heads in this country.

How about fining idiots that drive at 40km in 50km zones. Idiots.

and passing lanes like in most countries.

when I go to town, just one slow driver adds about an extra 20 minutes and causes a long line of cars behind, all angry because they will be late for work.

Tailgating is caused by inconsiderate road users sitting in the out side lane driving right on or under the speed limit and not keeping left as is required by law.

Driving in the far right lane for extended distance is also an offence as is impeding the flow of traffic.

Keep Left !!

I hate driving to begin with. When, oh, when will driverless cars be perfected? I'm 51, so the sooner the better.

when I go to town, just one slow driver adds about an extra 20 minutes and causes a long line of cars behind, all angry because they will be late for work.

Leave earlier or go around them. Even on a double yellow, if the car is going well under the speed limit like you said, check for oncoming traffic and go around. I have heard of people being stopped by police believe it or not for driving too slow.

I see only two things here. 1) the government making a show of pretending to do something and 2) the government creating a new angle to grab more money.

Japan has loads of laws that cover all this already. The guy who stopped the car on the expressway was charged with dangerous driving resulting in death or injury which has a maximum of 20 years. He was also charged with negligence resulting in death or injury.

Does anyone really believe piling more laws on top of those is going to make some angry person in a car think twice before doing something outrageous?

Horn use? Far less an issue than tailgating and sudden braking!

How about those noisy “Bosozoku”?

As I remember, the perp had stopped his car halfway down, semi blocking the ramp where you rejoin the expressway, although it now usually gets reported as, "at an expressway parking area".

There was a huge problem because the law did not cover the specifics of what this guy then did, and as a result there was outrage from the public (including here on JT) when despite being responsible for this family's deaths and injuries, it seemed that he was likely to get off. Since common sense could not dictate how he would be charged, e.g. there was nothing in the law book that said: "It is illegal to park in the overtaking lane, forcing another car to come to a halt, and thereby causing a horrific accident," they really needed to create new legislation to cover road rage.

So honking your horn now gets you --- ****Law-enforcement authorities will be able to immediately revoke drivers' licenses for a road rage offense and penalties will be up to three years in jail or a maximum 500,000 yen fine.

Over the top ridiculous reaction.

But some numbskull doing under the speed limit in the far right lane with 50 other motorist behind him will be simply ignored while anyone trying to pass on the left will be ticketed (2 points off the license and 15,000yen fine) it is nonsense once again.

If - "they not fully confident in their ability to operate a vehicle they can get a limited license" .

How about if they are not fully confident in their ability to operate a vehcile then they DO NOT Attempt to drive Jaysus how inept are these clowns.??

Another unenforced law. There are so many laws none are really enforced. Drink driving only if you actually have an accident. Using your phone, only if you have an accident, watch TV seems OK every car I pass seems to have it on. Seatbelt use, children wandering around the car....education and laws are way out of rhythm.

I think the "Horn Honkin" some are mentioning, doesn't mean the general toots to wake up an asleep driver at the lights or the driver wandering into the aside lane without indicating etc.

I think it's particularly aimed at those hooning esp at speed on highways, where they try to blast their way thru the traffic with a repeated ongoing horn assault.

My first occasion to witness this many years ago was in a long tunnel on the Chugoku Hwy, where the honker - in his big black sedan - basically forced everyone in front of him to cross into the outer lane even though the traffic stream was fast.

Even Moses never parted water as rapid as that.

Put more cops on the road!

expatToday  09:55 am JST

How about having all drivers over 75 surrender their licenses full stop, or restrict them from driving on all but tambo and logging roads?

Would love to hear your opinion on that on your 74th birthday.

What about doing something for the people just driving in the passing lanes and those going under the speed limit?

And what about those celebrities? Would this law include them too?

How about giving a cash incentive to road rage victims if the video is ACTUAL proof of an a-hole tailgating, flashing their high beams, swerving to prevent you from passing them like they own the road or of the sort. I personally thing the whole road rules need to be scrapped and renewed from scratch!

The number of fatal accidents caused by drivers aged 75 or older stood at 401 last year, accounting for 14.4 percent of the total, slightly lower than a record high seen the previous year, according to police data.

So you know the problem (old aged drivers), but they're still allowed to drive? There they go again Making all the sense and proper logic!