The head of Japan's National Police Agency has instructed police headquarters across the country to step up measures to prevent traffic accidents caused by foreign drivers.



National Police Agency Commissioner General Kusunoki Yoshinobu spoke at a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday. It was attended by about 80 people, including traffic bureau chiefs of police headquarters.



Traffic accidents involving foreign drivers have been increasing in Japan.



Kusunoki said his agency will work to improve traffic safety education so that foreign drivers have a better understanding of traffic rules and driving etiquette in Japan.



He instructed the officials to ensure firms that employ foreign drivers properly educate them about road safety through training.



He also said they should work with car rental companies to inform foreign customers about traffic rules and driving etiquette.



The agency chief told them to do more to crack down on unlicensed taxis drivers who use private vehicles to provide foreign tourists with fee-charging transportation services.



The agency says there were 7,286 accidents involving vehicles and motorbikes driven by foreign nationals last year, up more than 1,800 from five years earlier.