Japanese drivers reminded to look out for drunk people passed out on the road this holiday season

As Japan's year winds down, organizations mark the occasion with end-of-year celebrations, often involving copious amounts of alcohol. While younger generations are steering clear of excessive drinking, alcohol remains a central feature of these festivities. Consequently, the risk of businesspeople dozing off on benches, road shoulders, or worse—right in the middle of the road—escalates during this period.

Known colloquially as "rojo nekomi," the phenomenon of individuals passing out on the streets is not novel, but heightened awareness has ensued following the return to socializing post-COVID. In 2023, nearly a third of nighttime pedestrian traffic fatalities in Tokyo involved individuals who had fainted on the streets. However, alcohol is merely one factor contributing to this issue.

According to the National Police Agency, 70 percent of rojo nekomi cases are not alcohol-related, with heatstroke and aging playing significant roles in causing people to collapse on the road.

To tackle the problem, the Japan Auto Federation published a video demonstrating the ease with which drivers can spot and respond to sleeping pedestrians at night. In response, multiple taxi companies have joined forces with police forces across 32 prefectures to keep watch for unconscious individuals on the streets. Such initiatives appear to be effective, as exemplified by the commendation given to two Tokyo cab drivers on November 9, who aided street sleepers in separate incidents.

One commendation recipient, 70-year-old Yoshitatsu Miura, recounted encountering a lifeless body around 2 a.m., shining his headlights to make the person visible to other motorists while he called for emergency assistance. In another instance, 28-year-old Kazuki Yamamoto felt frustrated that other pedestrians were present yet chose to ignore the situation.

Online comments expressed mixed sentiments, with some admitting they might lack the courage to intervene in such scenarios, while others celebrated the positive outcomes.

The commendations awarded to these drivers prompt questions about the threshold for recognition. Additionally, some expressed frustration with the public's reluctance to assist, suggesting that such individuals should face penalties. However, the legal landscape poses challenges, as Japan does not criminalize public intoxication unless the individual is harassing, assaulting, or damaging property. Police detain intoxicated individuals for their protection rather than for criminal prosecution.

While obstructing traffic by sleeping or sitting on the road is punishable by up to a 50,000 yen fine, proving intent is difficult when the person is unconscious. In Okinawa, where the warmer climate exacerbates the rojo nekomi problem, police have become more aggressive, charging repeat offenders with traffic obstruction. Despite the risks, it is crucial for both pedestrians and motorists to exercise caution, either by moderating alcohol consumption and arranging safe transportation or by driving attentively at night with proper lighting.