Research Activities
Overall efforts related to car
The Department provides technical supports by
means of research activities to the government in
its developing vehicle regulations relating to safety
and the environment compatible with advanced
and sophisticated new technologies, such as
automated driving systems and fuel cell vehicles,
to reduce the number of casualties in traffic
accidents, thereby contributing to creating a safe
and secure society, and to improve fuel efficiency,
exhaust emissions and noise, therby contributing
to preventing environmental pollution and global
warming caused by motor vehicles.
The Department flexibly and comprehensively
addresses complex issues, including those related
to safety (collision safety, preventive safety,
electric and electronic technologies, etc.) , the
environment (reduction of environmental load,
improvement of fuel efficiency, promotion of
energy saving, diversification of energy sources,
etc.) and related boundary area.
Proposes improved methods for examining
vehicles in maintenance and periodical technical
inspection in response to new technologies.
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The Department is the only organization in
Japan that certifies new vehicles’ compliance
with regulations from a neutral and fair
standpoint under the Automobile Type
Approval System.
Through the implementation of thorough
type approval test, prevents the production and
circulation of non-compliant vehicles, ensures
public safety and security, and contributes to
environmental preservation.
By improving its technological capabilities,
the Department actively responds to increasingly
sophisticated and complex automotive
technologies as well as to new international
frameworks surrounding motor vehicles.
Efforts of international cooperation ensure
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In 2012, the Railway Certification Center
was accredited as the first Japanese certification
body in railway sector for conformity
with international standards.
Through the certification activities based
on ISO/IEC 17065 for conformity assessment,
the Department contributes to international
deployment of railway products and
technologies.
Efforts related to local transportation , etc.
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To help ensure safe, secure and stable operations
for transportation systems such as railway and
LRT (Light Rail Transit), the Department clarifies
the causes of accidents, studies low cost and safer
accident preventive measures, and conducts
technical assessments of new systems and rolling
stock, while promoting the use of public transportation,
thus contributing to solving environmental
issues.
Furthermore, works on general safety and
environmental issues of land transportation, such
as sustainable maintenance and revitalization of
local transportation, safe and secure mobility of
senior citizens and vulnerable road users, and
technological coordination