Celebration! Hokuryu Town achieved 5,000 days of zero traffic deaths!

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

On Sunday, January 10, 2021, Hokuryu Town celebrated its 5,000th day of zero traffic fatalities, a milestone it has maintained since Friday, May 4, 2007.

Ceremony marking the 5,000th day of zero traffic fatalities in Hokuryu Town

participant

Hokuryu Town: Mayor Yutaka Sano, Vice Mayor Toshimasa Takahashi, and Superintendent of Education Kazushi Arima
Fukagawa Police Station: Chief Norio Sakamoto, Numata Police Station Chief, Hideki Tomisho, Wa Station Chief, Atsushi Ito, Hekisui Station Chief
Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association: Yoshikazu Itagaki, Chairman; Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Instructors' Association: Akira Kono, Vice Chairman; Fujitani, Traffic Safety Promoter; Nakamura, Traffic Safety Promoter

Silent prayer for victims of traffic accidents

The ceremony was preceded by a moment of silence for the victims of the traffic accident.

Greeting from Mayor Yutaka Sano of Hokuryu Town

This year has started off mild and quiet. This past Saturday and Sunday, we had a blizzard, which reminded us that winter in Hokkaido is severe. As you know today, we have reached the 5,000th day of zero traffic accident deaths on January 10, 2007, which has been continuing since May 4, 2007 (Friday).

This is a great joy for the residents of the town and a great accomplishment for the town. We are grateful for the deep understanding and cooperation of the town's residents regarding traffic safety. I am also grateful for the tireless efforts of the Fukagawa Police Chief, the Numata Police Chief, and many others involved in traffic safety. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

With today as an opportunity, we will work together as a town to promote traffic safety for another 6,000 days. I ask for your continued support and guidance. Thank you very much for your kind attention today," said Mayor Yutaka Sano.

Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation

Chief Norio Sakamoto of the Fukagawa Police Station, Asahikawa District, Hokkaido, presented certificates of appreciation to the Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association and the Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Instructors' Association.

Certificate of Appreciation: "Your association has been involved in traffic safety activities for many years and has made great contributions to the prevention of traffic accidents, such as achieving 5,000 days with no traffic accident deaths in Hokuryu Town. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to you.
January 12, 2021 Captain Norio Sakamoto, Chief of Fukagawa Police Station, Asahikawa District, Hokkaido

Norio Sakamoto, Chief, Fukagawa Police Station, Asahikawa District, Hokkaido, Japan

The last time that 5,000 days of zero traffic deaths were achieved was on May 3, 2007 (Thursday), Constitution Day, when a traffic death occurred.

Last year, there were two traffic accidents in Hokuryu Town that resulted in three fatalities. The achievement of 5,000 days with zero traffic accident deaths in Hokuryu Town is the fifth in the number of continuous days in the entire Hokkaido. We hope to make Hokkaido a place where this kind of situation can continue for a long time.

The 5,000 days of zero traffic deaths in Hokuryu Town has continued for 13 years and 8 months, thanks to the efforts of all of you. I would like to ask for your continued efforts in the future. Together with the police, we will continue our efforts to achieve zero deaths in traffic accidents.

Yoshikazu Itagaki, Chairman of the Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association: High awareness of traffic safety and solidarity among Hokuryu Town residents

The activities of the Hokuryu Traffic Safety Association include a variety of activities, such as traffic safety rallies, the "Jumbo Human Wave Movement," a traffic safety awareness campaign in which all town residents, from nursery school children to senior citizens' clubs, participate, and a traffic safety awareness campaign for tourists at the Himawari Festival.

In Hokuryu Town, all of the approximately 800 households in the town are members of the Traffic Safety Association and pay membership fees. We feel that the cooperation of the town's residents as members of the association is very powerful.

I also believe that many townspeople are highly aware of traffic safety, including the guidance of the police station chief, senior citizens' clubs, and neighborhood associations. In addition, I think that the fact that the station chiefs make frequent rounds of the town on a daily basis helps to prevent accidents from occurring," said Yoshikazu Itagaki, chairman of the board of directors.

With boundless love, gratitude and prayers for the united efforts of the people of Hokuryu Town who are earnestly working together to prevent traffic accidents, and for the passionate spirit of the townspeople on the 5,000th day of zero traffic accident deaths, which reminds us of the preciousness of life.

More Photos

interpoint (interword separation)Celebration! Hokuryu Town Reaches 5,000 Days of Zero Traffic Accident Deaths! Click here for 22 photos >>

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◇ Photography and Editing: Noboru Terauchi Reporting and Writing: Ikuko Terauchi