Emergency Procedures
110 police, 119 fire/ambulance, accident response
If your vehicle breaks down on a road, you should stay in the vehicle and wait for help.
🚨 Emergency Procedures Cheat Sheet
Key facts from this topic. Print this page for quick offline reference.
TRUE: In Japan, the emergency number for police is 110.
Dial 110 for police in Japan.
TRUE: In Japan, the emergency number for fire and ambulance is 119.
Dial 119 for fire department and ambulance services in Japan.
TRUE: After a traffic accident, you must stop your vehicle and help any injured persons.
After a traffic accident, you are legally required to: 1) Stop immediately, 2) Help injured persons, 3) Prevent further danger, 4) Report to the police.
TRUE: After a traffic accident, you must report it to the police even if there are no injuries.
ALL traffic accidents must be reported to the police in Japan, even minor ones with no injuries.
TRUE: A warning triangle or flare should be placed behind a broken-down vehicle to alert approaching traffic.
Place a warning triangle at least 50 meters behind your vehicle (more on expressways) to warn approaching drivers.
TRUE: If a tire blows out while driving, you should grip the steering wheel firmly and gradually slow down.
In a tire blowout: grip the steering wheel firmly, do NOT brake suddenly, gradually ease off the accelerator, steer gently to the shoulder, and slow down gradually.
TRUE: When you witness an accident, you should provide first aid if trained and call emergency services.
As a witness, you should: ensure the scene is safe, call 110 (police) and 119 (ambulance), provide basic first aid if trained, and do not move severely injured persons unless they are in immediate danger.
TRUE: If your vehicle falls into water, you should wait for the water to fill the car before trying to open the door.
If submerged, the water pressure makes doors impossible to open until pressure equalizes.
TRUE: You should carry a first aid kit and warning triangle in your vehicle at all times.
Having a first aid kit, warning triangle, and basic emergency supplies (flashlight, window breaker) is strongly recommended and required for some vehicle types.
TRUE: When involved in an accident, you should move your vehicle to the side of the road if it is obstructing traffic and it is safe to do so.
If your vehicle is drivable and is blocking traffic, move it to a safe location to prevent secondary accidents.
FALSE: The emergency number for police in Japan is 119.
119 is for fire and ambulance.
FALSE: If your vehicle breaks down on a road, you should stay in the vehicle and wait for help.
If your vehicle breaks down, move it to the shoulder or a safe area if possible.
FALSE: If your brakes fail while driving, you should turn off the engine immediately.
Do NOT turn off the engine — you will lose power steering and power brakes.
FALSE: If your vehicle catches fire, you should stay in the vehicle and call for help.
If your vehicle catches fire: pull over immediately, turn off the engine, get all passengers out, move at least 30 meters away, call 119.
FALSE: It is acceptable to leave the scene of a minor accident if both parties agree no police report is needed.
In Japan, ALL accidents must be reported to the police, regardless of how minor.