If the Fujisawa trials are successful, the cars could be used to ferry spectators around at the 2020 Games and in rural communities with little or no public transport.
Driverless cars set to roll out for trials on UK roads
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As one of the fastest-ageing societies in the world, Japan is thought to be ideal for the introduction of self-driving vehicles, amid a rise in the number of accidents involving older drivers.
The number of Japanese drivers aged 75 or older was 4.25 million in 2013, and is expected to exceed 5 million in three years.
The age of the “silver” driver prompted the police to seek a revision to traffic laws that requires drivers aged over 74 who are suspected of suffering from dementia to a provide a “fit-to-drive” document from their doctor.