Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

By M.J. ISSOTT

Kobe, Hyogo

About eight years ago, while traveling in a convoy of vehicles that I must admit was exceeding the 50-kph posted speed limit, I was selected by the police for prosecution. I was the only foreigner in sight and highly visible driving a sports car with the top down. Since the cop seemed fair, I did not object to the prosecution, paid my ¥60,000 fine and, two years later, endured three hours of driving re-education that was almost entirely aimed at drunk-driving convictions.

That was a very salutary experience, and thereafter I deliberately drove on all Japanese roads at the official speed limit plus 5 or 10 percent. The result was that I inadvertently inconvenienced thousands of Japanese drivers who formed long, frustrated queues behind my car -- every 20 to 30 minutes I stopped to let them by. On my last visit to the Sea of Japan coast several weeks ago, numerous drivers roared past me over double yellow lines in 50-kph zones when I was traveling at 55 kph. Obviously that could have been extremely dangerous.

I have driven for the last time in Japan. However, to the millions of Japanese drivers who exceed the speed limits willfully every day, I urge them to confront the ridiculously low speed limits that exist on so many roads, and have their government introduce amended speed limits that accord with today's traffic conditions.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

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