Today, I was on my way to the University of Tsukuba and then heading back home. Coincidentally, during the journey, I experienced two incidents that I never imagined would happen in Japan.
First Incident:
While I was on my way to Tsukuba University Area 1, precisely around Global Village/Oikoshi Dormitory, a Jeep suddenly came from the direction of Amakubo Park and entered the main road without stopping to check the traffic. The Jeep almost crashed into a BMW that happened to be in front of me. After the Jeep passed, the BMW driver seemed to be in shock and stopped for about 10 seconds before slowly continuing the journey.
Important Lesson:
Before entering the main road, always check your surroundings carefully. It’s better to wait a moment than to risk your safety and others’.
Second Incident:
On my way back home through Higashi Odori, at the Namiki/Umezono intersection (near Idemitsu gas station), I witnessed an accident where two cars collided, and one of them flipped over. The incident happened so fast that I initially didn’t realize what was happening. Luckily, when I got home, I reviewed the footage from my dash cam, and it turned out that a small car hit a sedan. The question is, who was at fault? After rewatching the footage, I believe the sedan that flipped over was more at fault or at least bore a greater share of the blame.
Accident Analysis:
In Japan, cars driving on the main road have the right of way. The rules are clear. The small car, driving on the main road, should have been able to continue as long as it stayed within the speed limit. Meanwhile, the car that was turning should have waited until the road was clear or until the green turning light appeared.
This accident likely happened because the sedan driver thought they could make the turn before the car on the main road passed. Perhaps it was a miscalculation or a visibility issue, leading to the collision.
Conclusion:
It’s better to wait a little longer and ensure safety before turning rather than rushing and getting into an accident.
I recorded both incidents, and you can watch them on YouTube via the links below:
Always stay cautious when driving. Thank you for reading this blog!
