Police Speed Control Tactics in Japan

It is a common misconception that Japanese police do not chase speeders. In fact, speed control measures are quite sophisticated and widespread in the country. This article examines the methods used by law enforcement to catch speeders and provides a personal account from a journalist.

Do the Japanese Police Chase Speeders?

Yes, they do. In Japan, traffic enforcement is highly effective, and the methods used by the police are both innovative and well-trained. One such method involves the use of specialized motorbike units that are adept at traffic stops.

A Personal Experience with a Speed Trap

Back in the early 1990s, while living in Chiba Prefecture, suburban to Tokyo, I witnessed a unique setup that was specifically designed to catch speeders. On the local main highway, the speed limit was set at 50 km/h, but it was commonly exceeded to 70 km/h.

One day, just before reaching a stoplight about half-a-kilometer down the road, I noticed a vast, seemingly unused parking lot. This area was situated in a relatively sparse, mostly rural location. The parking lot appeared to serve no particular purpose until I observed the setup as I approached the stoplight.

Mystery Parking Lot and Its Purpose

When the light changed, cars would queue up, and the first few vehicles would be flagged down by a fleet of police officers positioned to direct the cars into the parking lot. Inside the lot, a series of vehicles were corralled, and a booth was set up for issuing tickets. The process was remarkably businesslike.

As I waited for my turn, I observed the road and noticed a pattern: whenever the light changed, leading cars in the queue were always flagged down, while the trailing vehicles proceeded unimpeded. This setup constituted an expensive speed trap, reflecting the creative and persistent efforts of the police to enforce speed limits.

Building an Asphalt Parking Lot for Speed Traps

What struck me most about this setup was the cost and effort involved. Building an asphalt parking lot specifically for the purpose of issuing speeding tickets and nothing else is an unusual and deep investment. It suggested a level of commitment and resources dedicated to the task of traffic enforcement.

To shed light on this issue, I wrote about my experience in my weekly column for an English-language daily newspaper in Tokyo. The article garnered an immense response from the English-speaking community, with many readers sharing similar stories of their encounters with speed traps in Japan.

Conclusion

While it is true that Japanese police do not chase speeders in the traditional sense, they have developed effective and often innovative methods to enforce speed limits. The parking lot setup described is just one example of the sophisticated traffic enforcement strategies used in the country.

Keywords

Japanese police, speed trap, traffic enforcement