Hi David and everyone,

I have been absented from this blog almost for 2 weeks ‘cause of my mothering.
Happy to joining in again^^

I’ve known this supercar accident whereas I do not know in detail.

I am a driver whose sometimes drive on the high way.
>The scariest thing, though, is how close people drive to each other. I sometimes feel like I am on a racetrack when I drive on Japanese expressways.
As David mentioned, I am scared of the way people driving so close one to another. I usually picture that car accidents would easily happens if I step my break abruptly when I drive on the expressway.
I remember that my friend who always drives close behind another, told me why she did like this, she tried to avoid someone’s car interrupt forward（彼女のクルマの前に割り込まれないようにしたい、とのこと）.
The other friend has no reasons why she drives like that.
I guess that number of Japanese people have forgotten the spirit of 譲り合い.

>Do you think there is any justification for owning a supercar in Japan, where the maximum speed limit is 100 km/h? Should these cars be banned?

I think just owing supercars doesn’t matter.
They can enjoy touring safety or watching them in their garages.
I don’t understand why supercar owners want to try their(cars) speed limit.

noriko

•  noriko
• 2011年12月 6日 15:20

Hi David,

Yes, it was a big accident and I was very surprised when I watched the new on TV yesterday.
>Some people are saying that it is probably the most expensive car accident in history!
Indeed!!

You know, I don't drive a car, so I don't know much about this kind of thing. I know there are some people who like supercars. I met a guy who had a supercar and he loved his car very much. Anyway, I don't think those cars fit Japanese roads.

>Should these cars be banned?
Sorry for them, but should be banned.

Bye for now,
amo

•  amo
• 2011年12月 6日 23:37

Hi David and everyone,

When I first watched the television footage which showed crumpled Ferraris, I thoght it was lucky that nobody was killed. I am a driver and I sometimes feel frightened when the car behind mine is too close.The Police Department law regulates that ideal distance between cars on the expressway is, if the car drives 80 kilometers per hour, 80 meters and for 100 km/h, 100 meters.This law is hardly followed. But I didn't know the way people drive in other countries, so I thoght the short distance between cars are not only in Japan.
Also, using cellphone while driving is banned. If a driver break this rule and be found, he/she will be punished.
I think those supercars should be banned to drive on the roads and expressways.
I read some comments of the Japan Time website. I agree with the person named ebisen:

ebisenDec. 05, 2011 - 08:17AM JST

Racing on public roads. Failure to keep proper distance from the vehicle in front, driving at high speeds... In any civilised country the drivers would do jail time for this...

It's really interesting to know how foreign people living in Japan feel about our customs and the way of our life!

See you later, alligator.

Fumie

•  Fumie
• 2011年12月 7日 06:35

Hi David and everyone,

Yes, I saw the news on TV,too, and I was guessing that this week's topic might be about this accident!

You might have heard about these kinds of car accidents, but this time almost all the cars were very luxurious ones, and that's why this accidents caught people's attention.

I drive a car, but usually only in my neighboring areas. As David mentioned, people drive so close to each other in Japan. It feels scary. I don't want to drive on expressways for exactly that reason. I feel scared when I change lanes.

>Should these cars be banned?
No, I don't think so.
I personally think it boils down to one's personal preference. I'm not familiar with cars, but I understand that these types of sports cars are not suitable for Japanese roads. Having said that, if someone wants to have one, no one can blame them for that. The problem (or point?) is that how the law should be changed to discourage dangerous driving.

By the way, I read most of the comments. There are 174 comments now. I found the following comment was interesting.

By Hed-Madness Dec.5 2011 2:37PM

【British Motorway police will often travel above the speed limit to ensure that traffic moves freely.

And it doesn't matter what the speed limit is. In your example, if the three cars are travelling within the speed limit you are happy for them to travel at that speed. Whether the limit is 60 km/h or 80 km/h they are not breaking the law.

The speed limits are set by the police and it is the police's responsibility to enforce them. If you're travelling at 80 km/h in the outside lane and the middle lane is empty and someone has to undercut you to get past then you are far more of a danger then they are. It's not your responsibility to enforce the speed limit but is your responsibility to ensure that your actions cause no danger to other drivers and careless driving (as this would be classified in a British court) is exceptionally dangerous.】

David, is it true?

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2011年12月 7日 21:08

Hi Anne,

I read that comment as well. This guy is saying that too many Japanese people drive in the right lane even when the inside lanes are empty. In Britain, this is a real problem because you are not allowed to "undertake" (pass on the left). This means that if someone is blocking the lane and driving more slowly than you, you cannot get past even if the inside lanes are clear. I don't really understand what he is talking about, though, because there is no problem with undertaking in Japan.

In Britain, we have a saying for drivers like this:

"The pedal on the right, or the lane on the left!"

It means "either go faster by pushing the accelerator, or move over and get out of my way!"

•  davidbarker
• 2011年12月 7日 22:11

Hello David and everyone.
I’m ksk. This is my first comment on the blog, I’ve been reading your entries and comments from the beginning for the past several months though. I finally caught up with you.

I was still of two minds whether to post here or not, because I wasn’t sure if I could keep on writing English sentences. But now I made up my mind to give it a try and say hello to you all.

It’s a little bit strange that I know something about your personalities and thoughts, while you don’t know me at all.
I know who first met David in Singapore. I know who once joined in the one-day seminar at the university in Aichi where David used to teach at. I know who went on Ohenro trip in Shikoku a few years ago. I know who is originally from Okinawa and always busy at work(Take care of yourself!). I know who sang a カンツォーネ at オフ会 in Tokyo. I know who introduced his future bride then.(^’^)

Anyway, as for this week’s topic I don’t think that owning those supercars should be banned. There must be some owners who obey traffic rules. I don’t think we should take away one’s right to purchase their favorite things. Although those owners should be quite aware that they cannot make full use of those car’s potential in Japan.

Wow, it takes so long to write something in English.
That’s all for today. See you soon.

ksk

•  ksk
• 2011年12月 8日 08:18

Hi David,

Thanks for your early reply and explanation.

>either go faster by pushing the accelerator, or move over and get out of my way---Oh, isn't it a kind of the way of trying to pressure the driver of the car in front to speed up? If I were to drive in England( never happen!), I should keep this in mind!

Hi ksk,
Wow! You seem to know everything that members have mentioned here!

Nice to have you with us, and looking forward to hearing from you again.

See you soon,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2011年12月 8日 09:20

Hi ksk,

Welcome to the blog. You learnt a lot about us from the blog. You know us well, now it's your turn to tell us about you(lol)
Look forward to your next comment;)

amo

•  amo
• 2011年12月 9日 08:30

I think cars are status symbols for many Japanese, even though they aren't for young people anymore. So some Japanese buy "3-number" car (a large displacement car), even they only drive around their home, though they may not buy a supercar. In contrast, I heard that western people think a car is just a mode of transportation, so as long as it can bring people and goods, you don't mind it's used or brand-new, large or small displacement, etc.. If it's true, they may hardly believe people pay tens of thousand dollar for a car which has too much performance for running a road in Japan!

I'm not sure if I gave a reasonable answer to a david's question, and for me doing so is very hard. Because I personally think cars are just a vehicle for carring people and goods. I can't believe some people live in a studio room to afford a supercar.

I Love Nutella

•  I Love Nutella
• 2011年12月 9日 16:42