世論 What Japan Thinks

Recently the Cabinet Office Japan sponsored a very detailed survey into the public’s perception of public transport safety.

Demographics

3,000 people over the age of twenty were randomly selected from resident lists from all over the country. Between the 24th of July and 3rd of August 2008 face-to-face interviews took place. 39.3% refused or were not resident at that address, etc, so in total 1,822 people completed the survey. 53.9% of the sample were female, 8.1% in their twenties, 14.6% in their thirties, 17.5% in their forties, 20.8% in their fifties, 21.5% in their sixties, 13.0% in their seventies, and 4.4% aged eighty or older.

In Q8 I find the actions classified as “unsafe behaviour” quite surprising. Dashing into closing train doors and getting stuck in the door is dangerous, but checking in at the last minute is hardly unsafe, just impolite at worse.

Talking of unsafe behaviour, I flew trans-Pacific with NorthWest a couple of days ago in an exit seat with two of the crew opposite, but one of them grabbed her mobile and started checking her email during the final approach! They then went as far as to tut quietly at a passenger whose mobile rung as the plane taxied.

Research results

First, public transport was defined as railways, buses, taxis, airplanes and passenger ships.

Q1: About how often do you use public transport? (Sample size=1,822)

Every day	11.4%
Several times a week	12.3%
Several times a month	22.8%
Almost never use	40.5%
Never use	13.0%
Don’t know	0.0%

Q2: How safe do you think public transport is? (Sample size=1,822)

Safe	38.9%
Safe to some degree (to SQ)	50.2%
Not very safe (to SQ)	6.5%
Not safe at all (to SQ)	0.8%
Don’t know	3.6%

Q2SQ: What sorts of things would make you feel public transport was safe? (Sample size=1,048, multiple answer)

Fewer accidents	54.8%
Fewer problems when running	42.1%
Running to timetable	30.4%
Release of safety, accident, etc, information by operators	31.7%
Government to suitably oversee safety	29.5%
Other	1.5%
Nothing in particular	1.7%
Don’t know	1.4%

Q3: Regarding public transport, overall in the last 10 years how do you feel the following has changed? (Sample size=1,822)

Q3A: Safety

Improved	37.4%
Deteriorated	10.4%
Not changed	44.1%
Don’t know	8.1%

Q3B: Lateness

Improved	14.5%
Deteriorated	21.7%
Not changed	47.6%
Don’t know	16.1%

Q3C: Comfort

Improved	54.4%
Deteriorated	4.1%
Not changed	30.6%
Don’t know	10.9%

Q4: Have you ever seen or heard information regarding public transport safety? (Sample size=1,822)

Yes (to SQ)	47.7%
No	49.8%
Don’t know	2.5%

Q4SQ: From which kinds of media have you seen or heard information regarding public transport safety? (Sample size=869, multiple answer)

Television, radio	84.9%
Newspapers	62.7%
Posters	12.8%
Internet	12.1%
Magazines	6.4%
Pamphlets	5.3%
Other	1.8%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q5: Would you want to know about information regarding public transport safety? (Sample size=1,822)

Yes (to SQs)	63.2%
No	33.6%
Don’t know	3.2%

Q5SQ1: Safety on which kinds of public transport would you particularly want to know about in detail? (Sample size=1,151, multiple answer)

Trains	79.0%
Airplanes	49.9%
Buses	43.8%
Taxis	17.8%
Passenger ships	10.6%
None in particular	2.8%
Don’t know	0.2%

Q5SQ2: What safety issues regarding public transport would you particularly want to know about in detail? (Sample size=1,151, multiple answer)

Accident, etc circumstances, details	58.8%
Accident cause analysis and measures to prevent reoccurance	52.2%
Information regarding passenger safety resources	35.4%
Government, operators safety efforts	35.1%
Safety policies (government regulations, etc)	34.9%
Government oversight, evaluation of operators	30.9%
Other	0.5%
Nothing in particular	2.1%
Don’t know	0.6%

Q6: Do you think the government should gather information from individual companies on safety resources and promote these? (Sample size=1,822)

Should actively gather and promote	48.7%
Should to some extent gather and promote	34.1%
Should not really gather and promote	5.4%
Should not gather at all	4.6%
Don’t know	7.2%

Q7: As a public transport user, which of the following safety-related activities do you try to do? (Sample size=1,822, multiple answer)

Next time take time for the activities	76.2%
Don’t perform unsafe actions	43.8%
Look at safety-related notices, bulletin boards, etc	20.3%
Actively use safety measures related to public transport safety	12.2%
Talk with friends, family about public transport safety measures	10.0%
Participate, obtain information about public transport safety-related education, activities	3.3%
Nothing in particular	5.3%
Don’t use public transport	7.1%
Other	0.5%
Don’t know	0.7%

Respondents were shown a card detailing example unsafe behaviour. These included dashing to board the train just as it was leaving, getting hands, bags stuck in the doors, performing boarding procedures for a plane, boat just before departure, and standing up, retrieving bags on planes before the seat belt sign is turned off.

Q8: As a public transport user, in the last few years have you either seen or performed yourself any unsafe activity? (Sample size=1,822)

Seen or done it many times (to SQs)	25.9%
Seen or done it once or twice (to SQs)	17.5%
Neither seen nor done it	42.9%
Don’t use public transport	12.4%
Don’t know	1.3%

Q8SQ1: Regarding the unsafe activity you either saw or performed yourself, what do you mostly think about the peope doing it? (Sample size=791)

Think it’s dangerous, but it’s unavoidable	35.8%
Think it’s dangerous, but I’ll be OK myself	45.0%
Don’t think it’s particularly dangerous	16.9%
Don’t know	2.3%

Q8SQ2: Regarding the unsafe activity you either saw or performed yourself, what effectdo you mostly think it has on others? (Sample size=791)

Think it endangers other people	63.7%
Think it causes problems for others but can’t say it’s dangerous	33.6%
Don’t think it causes problems or is dangerous	1.8%
Don’t know	0.9%

Q8SQ3: When you saw the unsafe activity, did you report it to an official? (Sample size=791)

Yes	5.3%
No	93.6%
Don’t know	1.1%

Q8SQ4: When you saw the unsafe activity, did you tell the person to stop doing it? (Sample size=791)

Yes	9.0%
No	89.6%
Don’t know	1.4%

Q9: As a public transport user, if an official detailed a warning about unsafe activity, you saw a posted display on unsafe activity, etc, what would you do? (Sample size=1,822)

Next time pay attention to safety	67.7%
Always pay attention to safety, so wouldn’t pay any particular attention to these	16.7%
Never heard a warning, seen a poster	7.4%
Wouldn’t pay any particular attention to safety	5.7%
Other	0.1%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q10: Have you ever attended a lecture, took education, training regarding safe use of public transport? (Sample size=1,822)

Many times	4.8%
Once or twice	4.6%
Never	90.2%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q11: In order to highlight public transport safety for users, which of the following would be effective initiatives that the country, operators should enact? (Sample size=1,822, multiple answer)

Publicity through television, newspaper, magazine, internet	66.8%
Warning to people performing unsafe behaviour	38.0%
Poster display, pamphlet distribution, announcements on transport, in terminals, etc	29.0%
Poster display, pamphlet distribution on the street	26.2%
Education, training, lectures on safe use	21.6%
Other	0.5%
Nothing in particular	4.3%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q12: In order to ensure public transport safety, what initiatives do you think the government should strengthen? (Sample size=1,822, multiple answer)

Accident cause investigation	52.7%
Checking that operators’ safety management systems, technical standards are being adhered to	49.8%
Promotion of accident prevention technique development	43.5%
Penalties for accidents, illegal activities	38.0%
Publication of information regarding accidents, etc	34.2%
Publication of information regarding safety initiatives	31.0%
Education, publicity on safety for users	28.0%
Checking on company formation their perspectives on safety assurances	25.9%
Other	0.8%
Nothing in particular	4.2%
Don’t know	3.2%