Man, thrown out of car on highway, dies after being hit by following vehicle

I can't think of a better reminder to buckle up.

"Undertaking" - the favourite manoeuvre of Japanese drivers, and one of the most dangerous to everyone on the road.

While not listed as a factor in the accident, 'undertaking' is banned and will attract a fine in many countries. Keeping to the left in Japan is not a priority for many drivers and impatience and speeding on the roads here is something that shocks me every time I drive.

I have come to dislike driving here at weekends as inexperienced and stupid drivers scare me.....

This scares me silly. My own boy's about to turn twenty and he's a great kid, but he just won't wear a seatbelt unless I tell him to. His sister's the same. Their mother doesn't see it as a problem. I almost wish, no I do wish, that they'd have a minor accident, foreheads smacking into the windscreen with a bit of blood, just to make them realise what can happen.....

@magnus roe - Japanese law requires that all vehicle occupants wear seat belts; this includes back-seat passengers and children. Prior to April 2008, officials urged drivers to try to get back-seat passengers to use their seat belts, but drivers these days are responsible for ensuring that all passengers, regardless of age or location in the vehicle, have their seat belts securely fastened.

Not everyone in Japan is required to wear a seat belt, however. Pregnant women and people with disabilities that make it difficult for them to fasten their belts are exempted.

Drivers carrying passengers not wearing seat belts have a penalty point added to their driving record; six points results in suspension of their license, while 15 points gets it revoked. Passengers not wearing seat belts receive a warning.

So, it was a double foul! Not only was the passenger not wearing a seat belt, which is law in japan (surprisingly) the driver was also overtaking on the inside lane, which is also 'supposed to be' against the law. Maybe incidents like this are the reason there are such laws, just maybe!

By the headline I thought that was about an anti-social elements execution. RIP young man.

@craighicks - many taxis now have automated messages to tell passengers to put their seatbelt on. But agree that the design and operation of rear seat belt fasteners is absolutely useless - car and belt manufacturers should be ashamed of the difficulties people face using them.

The deceased was likely sleeping in the back seat. The driver may have dozed off.

One thing is for sure, somebody did not buckle up and now they are very dead!!

Seatbelts in the back, no-one seems to be educated on their value in Japan.

Love it how people don't wear seatbelts. Freaking careless. I always wear seatbelts! Even when traveling around residental area. They should really clamp down on these laws!

A taxi driver will NEVER even remind you that you should put your seatbelt on, and I am always still searching around for the buckle as we go zipping down the road.

Love it how people don't wear seatbelts.

To be honest, it's no skin off my back whether they do or not. The important thing is that I and my loved ones do.

I don't think belts are mandatory for back seat passengers, just "encouraged".

Those who can think will wear seatbelts. I suppose it's all part of the Darwinian theory. And those who only have a few brain cells will let their children stick their heads out of the car, let them jump around on the passenger seat and even hold their babies on their laps will driving. Believe me, I've seen it all in Japan.

Sounds fishing the door just opened when he hit a guard rail?! Sounds like their may have been a fight and one guy jumped or got a shove.

All speculation except for the comment to buckle up.

DisillusionedJan. 27, 2014 - 03:08PM JST So, it was a double foul! Not only was the passenger not wearing a seat belt, which is law in japan

I don't think belts are mandatory for back seat passengers, just "encouraged".