Preventing Mishaps Throughout the Summer - Proactively Evaluating Strategy for Immediate Accident Reduction

In the serene surroundings of Shoko-ji Temple, located in Mount Tateshina, Chino City, Nagano, the third Tateshina Meeting took place this year. This gathering brought together senior managers from automobile manufacturers, suppliers, and insurers with the common goal of reducing traffic accidents to zero.

The discussion at the Tateshina Meeting focused on the power of media coverage to change people's behavior, with Yuta Tomikawa, a panelist, leading the conversation. Tomikawa emphasised the potential of news coverage to contribute to safer streets by conveying causes of accidents in a way that encourages individual behavior change.

One example of such an initiative is the Okinawa Yuimaru Project, a community-wide traffic safety initiative launched in 2020. Based on the Okinawan concept of "Yuimaru" meaning "Circle of people" or "Spirit of cooperation," the project focuses on community support and mutual care. Since its inception, it has developed into active charitable community efforts such as food distribution and support activities, as illustrated by collaborations at events like Winter Wonderland where over 500 families received aid.

The Okinawa Yuimaru Project was introduced during the panel discussion at the Tateshina Meeting as an example of industry-government collaboration in the realm of road safety.

In addition to the discussions, Shoko-ji Temple also held its annual summer festival on July 17 and 18, 2021, dedicated to praying for road safety. The temple, built in 1970 to pray for safety on roads and commemorate traffic accident victims, has been a symbol of hope and unity in the pursuit of zero traffic accident casualties.

The Tateshina Meeting, with its focus on encouraging changes in behavior, aims to create a ripple effect that will lead to a safer and more responsible driving culture. As the discussions and collaborations continue, we move one step closer to achieving the goal of zero traffic accident casualties.