Japan has 4 seasons and the road surfaces and people’s mental and physical conditions change with each season. It is important to know what measures to take to guard against danger. This article describes possible problems in each of the 4 seasons, as well as appropriate remedies and driving tips.

Precautions and Measures for driving in Spring.

Here are 3 precautions and measures for driving in Spring.

1.      Danger of falling asleep and hay fever

The risk of falling asleep while driving increases in spring because of the warm weather. It’s not just because of the warm weather, but because the autonomic nervous system is unable to cope with the change in climate due to the change in season, and the parasympathetic nervous system is unable to regulate sleepiness, making people sleepy even during the day. If you feel sleepy, stop at a convenience store parking lot or parking area and take a nap for 10 to 20 minutes. That make you feel much less sleepy. Before taking a nap, it is said that drinking a cup of coffee will help you wake up refreshed in about 15 minutes.

Also, many people may have hay fever in the spring. Hay fever can cause people not noticing pedestrians jumping out to the road at the moment the driver looks at a tissue to sneeze or wipe a runny nose, or to step on the gas pedal with great force at the moment they sneeze. There are also many dangers, such as drowsy eyes, not being able to see well, and drowsiness from the medication.

It is important for hay fever sufferers to take medication as early as possible to reduce hay fever symptoms as much as possible and to take medication that causes less drowsiness.

2.      Risk of drunk driving

In spring, there are many events such as cherry blossom viewing, graduation ceremonies, and welcome and farewell parties, which naturally increase opportunities to drink alcohol. Drunk driving has severe penalties and is a one-shot revocation of your license. As the motto “If you drink, don’t ride; if you ride, don’t drink” suggests, take the option of not drinking if you are going by car, or using public transportation if you want to drink.

 It is also a crime to miss an acquaintance knowing that he or she will be drinking and driving, or simply to offer alcohol to someone driving home, or to ride with a driver who has been drinking. Besides, if a drunk driver causes an accident, he or she will lose social credibility, so do not drink and drive. However, there are still people who drink and drive. If you are driving on weekend nights, be careful of drunk drivers, and if you see a car driving too dangerously, drive with a sufficient distance between you and the car.

3.      Consideration for novice and tourist drivers

On February and March, students and new recruit to get their driver’s license all at once. It also brings more tourists as the climate becomes more comfortable. This makes the cars of people who are not used to driving more noticeable.

 If you see a car with a beginner’s mark or a car with a “わ” on their license plate (rental car), be careful. Cars with beginner’s marks or “わ” on their license plates are often not used to driving or are in a car they do not normally drive, so they may not be able to react quickly. To prevent problems and accidents, drive with a relaxed and friendly attitude.

Precautions and Measures for driving in Summer

Here are 3 precautions and measures for driving in Summer.

1.      Eye fatigue due to strong ultraviolet rays

The strong ultraviolet in summer fatigue eyes. Especially during the daytime when the sun is strong, prolonged driving can cause blurred vision and dry eyes, as well as eye fatigue caused by ultraviolet rays. Sunglasses are useful for daytime driving in summer.

2.      Physical exhaustion, poor physical condition, and adverse psychological effects due to heat

There are “summer-type accidents,” which occur in the summer and are caused by falling asleep at the wheel or distracted driving due to relaxation from the heat, fatigue, or other factors. These are more likely to result in serious accidents, including death and serious injury.

The heat can make you light-headed, tired after a summer of leisure activities, or just tired from the heat alone, but furthermore, prolonged exposure to the air conditioner in a car can cause your autonomic nervous system to go haywire and your attention to be distracted. They can also become ill from heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses, or become irritable and aggressive because it is too hot. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated to avoid distractions and irritability.

 When driving in the summer, take a break every 1 to 1.5 hours. During breaks, hydrate and stretch to help reduce fatigue. Avoid using air conditioners with the wind blowing directly on the body and avoid setting the air conditioner too low. Direct exposure to wind not only causes fatigue but also dry eyes. Set the temperature at an appropriate setting, as a large temperature difference from the outside can be hard on the body.

3.      Danger of flat tire/burst

When a vehicle is driven, frictional heat is generated by the contact between the tires and the road surface. In summer, the road surface is hotter, so the temperature of the tire surface is also higher. Tire rubber hardens and cracks at high temperatures, leading to the risk of flat tire and bursts. A flat tire or burst can result in loss of vehicle control and a serious accident. To prevent flat tire and bursts, it is important to look at your tires on a daily basis to check for cracks and air pressure. Also, if the steering wheel becomes less effective or the body shake increases while driving, pull over to a safe place and check for bursts.

Precautions and Measures for driving in Fall.

Here are 3 precautions and measures for driving in Fall.

1.      Poor visibility before and after sunset

The number of fatal accidents by time of day shows that most occur between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.[i] In summer, the days are long and bright, but in fall, the days gradually get shorter and it becomes darker. The hours of darkness, when it is difficult to see roads and pedestrians, are the most dangerous. Since these hours are longer in the fall, turn on your lights early and drive safely.

2.      Hazards in wet weather

In fall, the weather is changeable, and when there is a fall rain front, rain may continue for a long time, or typhoons may occur, so you may experience sudden torrential downpours. During rainy weather, it is difficult to grasp the situation ahead, so you should keep a sufficient distance between vehicles, especially on highways. When driving at high speeds on wet road surfaces, the “hydroplaning phenomenon,” in which the driver loses control of steering and braking, is also likely to occur, so do not drive too fast. Also, brake early on curves because of the danger of slipping.

3.      Risk of traffic jam

Fall is the holiday season with the Silver Week, so traffic jams are likely to occur. During traffic jams, drivers may become irritated or lose concentration, and rear-end collisions are likely to occur. When you notice a traffic jam ahead on the highway, you can prevent multiple accidents by turning on your hazard warning lights and notifying the cars following you.

Precautions and Measures for driving in Winter.

Here are 3 precautions and measures for driving in Winter.

1.      Hazards due to snow accumulation

People who usually live in the snow-less area must be extremely careful when driving on snow-covered roads for leisure activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

Stopping is especially difficult on snow-covered roads, so when stopping at a red light, for example, drivers must slow down early or they will slip. Since they often slip on curves, etc., drive at low speeds anyway.

2.      Hazards due to icy road surfaces

On icy road surfaces, tires have almost no grip, so basically do nothing and pass by at low speeds. Sudden steering can cause spin, sudden braking can cause slipping, and sudden acceleration can cause wheel spin. Frozen road surfaces tend to form at intersections, before sharp curves, at tunnel exits, on bridges, in the shade, and in many other places, so it is important to accurately assess road conditions and drive carefully.

3.      Hazards due to poor visibility

Heavy snowfall can cause poor visibility. Especially during snowstorms, snow can accumulate on the windshield and even the windshield wipers can become ineffective. At such times, even in daylight, turn on your lights, check your safety, and drive carefully at low speeds.

Let’s drive safely by responding to seasonal risks!

The 4 seasons in Japan are beautiful, but it is also true that each season brings its own set of driving risks. However, it is possible to cope with them if you know how to drive in each of the seasons. Knowing driving tips in advance and taking countermeasures will lead to safe driving.