Japan halves speed limit to 30km/h on all narrow city streets

Narrow roads with no pavements are a common sight in crowded Japanese cities, with data indicating that children and older people are at particular risk of being involved in serious accidents. Photograph: imagenavi/Getty Images

Drivers on residential roads in Japan have been forced to take their foot off the accelerator, after the speed limit was slashed from 60km/h (37mph) to 30km/h in an attempt to reduce deaths and injuries among pedestrians on narrow urban streets.

The new limit, which went into effect on Tuesday, applies to residential roads with no centre line or maximum speed signs, media reports said.