Japan is to increase the speed limit for certain expressway routes. This represents a major change for the country, which has long had much lower speed limits on expressways than most other developed nations.
At present expressways in Japan have a speed limit of 100km/h. However, certain sections of the expressway network will now feature speed limits of 120km/h.
The change comes after a series of tests carried have indicated that raising the speed limit from 100-120km/h will not increase the incidence of crashes.
Only the safest expressway sections with the lowest crash rates will feature the new speed limits. Trucks will still be limited to a maximum of 80km/h however.
Approval will have to be given by the police and local government for each section of expressway to have a revised speed limit.
