Japan halves speed limit to 30 km/h on narrow city streets

Drivers on many of Japan’s narrow residential streets must now slow to 30 km/h, half the previous default limit. The rule took effect on Tuesday and covers roads without centre lines or posted maximum speeds.

The measure applies to about 870,000 kilometres of roads less than 5.5 metres wide, or roughly 70% of Japan’s general roads, according to the Mainichi Shimbun. Such streets often have no pavements and are common in the country’s crowded cities.

Authorities hope the change will improve safety in residential areas, where children and older people remain particularly vulnerable. Overall traffic deaths fell to a record low of 2,457 last year, but the number of fatal or serious accidents involving children and older people on residential roads has stayed around 300 a year since 2021. It rose for the first time in three years in 2025.

Japan introduced “zone 30” restrictions on selected residential streets and school routes in 2011. The Mainichi reported that those areas recorded a 30% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries.

National police data show why speed matters. The mortality rate for pedestrians involved in crashes with vehicles travelling at or below 30 km/h is below 1%. It rises to 2.7% at 30 to 40 km/h and reaches 17.4% at 50 to 60 km/h.

“We ask drivers to recognise that they need to take particular care on roads shared by vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists,” police agency Commissioner General Yoshinobu Kusunoki told reporters.

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We ask drivers to recognise that they need to take particular care on roads shared by vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.