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Story summary
- Japan lowered the speed limit on residential roads without centre lines from 60 km/h to 30 km/h on Tuesday.
- The new 30 km/h limit covers about 870,000 km of roads under 5.5 m wide, roughly 70 % of the network.
- Authorities say the reduction aims to lower pedestrian deaths and serious injuries among children and the elderly.
- Pedestrian mortality rises from under 1 % at <=30 km/h to 2.7 % at 30-40 km/h and 17.4 % at 50-60 km/h.
- A 2011 “zone 30” program on limited streets cut fatalities and serious injuries by 30 %.
