New 30-kph speed limit takes effect on Japan's residential roads
TOKYO -- A revised enforcement ordinance under the Road Traffic Act took effect on Sept. 1, lowering the statutory maximum speed on general roads with
On September 1st, Japan implemented a new 30-kilometer per hour speed limit on residential roads, as part of a revised enforcement ordinance under the Road Traffic Act. This reduction in speed applies primarily to narrow residential streets and other local roads where residents frequently travel. The primary goal of this measure is to decrease serious accidents, as pedestrian fatalities increase significantly when vehicles travel faster than 30 kph.
This is the first reduction in the statutory maximum speed on general roads since the Road Traffic Act was enacted in 1960.
Approximately 70% of Japan's roughly 1.22 million kilometers of general roads are less than 5.5 meters wide, with about 870,000 kilometers falling under the new 30-kph limit. However, any roads with designated speed limits, such as 40 or 20 kph, will retain those restrictions. On wider roads without center lines, authorities will install signs tailored to local road conditions.
As of 2025, the combined number of children 15 or younger and people 65 or older killed in traffic accidents on residential roads had remained around 288, before slightly increasing to 315.
National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoshinobu Kusunoki emphasized the importance of recognizing the need for extra caution on roads where motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists share the same space. In 2011, the agency began promoting the designation of "Zone 30" areas, where speed limits on school routes, residential streets, and other specified roads were set at 30 kph or lower.
As of March 2023, 4,457 such zones had been designated nationwide, resulting in a roughly 30% decrease in fatal and serious injury accidents. The revised ordinance extends this speed restriction to residential roads nationwide, with 249 "Zone 30 Plus" areas utilizing physical measures like speed humps to deter vehicles from exceeding 30 kph.
Despite these measures, raising awareness among drivers remains a challenge, and the NPA plans to promote awareness through on-street campaigns and its website.
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