No fines for elderly who drive without autumn leaf sticker
The NPA has decided not to enforce part of a law that would fine drivers over the age of 75 who do not attach an autumn leaf sticker to their vehicle:
The Road Traffic Law amendment that took effect in June stipulates a ¥4,000 fine for elderly drivers who fail to display the symbol, but in a draft law revision worked out by the agency Thursday, the requirement to display the sticker has been reduced to an “obligation to make an effort” to display it, without penalty.
The NPA said it will scrap the penalty because some 75 percent of elderly drivers already display the sticker.
Due to public criticism of the penalty, police had decided not to penalize violators for the first year the law is in force.
While the sticker’s design does provide a clean counterpart to the green leaf seal used for beginning drivers, autumn leafs tend to bring to mind decay and death, and if I was an elderly driver I’d be pretty depressed to place such a mark on my car. It seems I’m not alone in this feeling, as authorities may look into redesigning the sticker because of complaints about its dead appearance.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
- Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)
Full RSS Feed
I don’t think it’s the symbol so much as what it symbolizes, as James points out. “Death and decay” may put too fine a point on it, but no matter how you look at it, the fact that they have to brand their cars as if to say “watch out for me; I may be a bad driver!” is going to be insulting.
I don’t think redesigning the symbol (which is already pretty damn abstract and doesn’t, to me, seem inherently insulting) will have much effect on that fundamental aspect of the program.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
As a driver in Japan, I like the 高齢者マーク for elderly drivers, as well as the 初心者マーク. Let’s be honest – Both groups don’t perform very well, and I like to have an advanced notice to take caution.
I’m fine with them changing the design. It could be a diamond-encrusted sakura bloom for all I care, just as long as I know what to look out for.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
If I were elderly would be afraid of advertising myself as an easy target. Japan is quite safe but no place is free of crime. The elderly are already more vulnerable to crime, and advertising the owner of the car is elderly just makes them easier to find.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Frankly if your driving is bad enough that we need to be warned you are a bad driver you shouldn’t be on the road in the first place.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
saw one of these on a car on the last day of my brief (~9 days) recent trip to Japan. wouldn’t have known what it was if I hadn’t seen this post just a few days prior.
anyone know if it’s possible to buy one of these stickers to put on a car in the States? (just for laughs)
Rate this comment:
0 
0
You can pick them up at your local DIY/Hardware store, or even at some 100 yen shops. (Also the shoshin-sha beginners marks, too)
Rate this comment:
0 
0