What is the core reason behind the rise in rental car accidents involving foreign drivers?

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Foreign Drivers and Rental Car Accidents in Japan

Accidents involving foreign drivers renting cars in Japan have significantly increased, with incidents more than quadrupling between 2020 and 2025. This rise is attributed to a combination of factors, including the large proportion of visitors from countries where traffic drives on the right and the specific challenges of navigating Japanese roads, particularly right turns at intersections where traffic keeps to the left.
Increased Accidents Over Five Years

The number of accidents involving rental cars driven by foreign motorists holding international driving permits or foreign driving licences saw a substantial jump. From 47 incidents in 2020, the figure rose to 212 by 2025, indicating a more than fourfold increase over this period. This trend prompted the Japanese transport ministry to implement new safety measures.
Navigating Right Turns on the Left

A notable pattern in these accidents is their occurrence during right turns at intersections. Japan's traffic system requires vehicles to keep to the left. This convention presents a challenge for drivers accustomed to driving on the right side of the road, a common practice in many other countries and regions globally.
Impact of Origin Countries and Specific Locations

The selection of initial rollout locations for safety measures—Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport, Fukuoka Airport, and Okinawa’s Naha Airport—was based on specific criteria. These airports receive a comparatively high volume of foreign visitors who rent cars. Furthermore, a significant percentage of these visitors originate from countries or regions where traffic flows on the right, suggesting a potential unfamiliarity with Japan's left-hand traffic system.

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What is the core reason behind the rise in rental car accidents involving foreign drivers?

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