ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
2 / A2
Published
Title
Speed Limit Drop in Japan
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-09-06-speed-limit-drop-in-japan/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice

Language: Vocab Match, New Sentences

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

Why is Japan reducing the speed limit for cars?

a) To make small roads safer for people.

b) To reduce traffic in big cities.

c) To help drivers arrive more quickly.

Illustrated narrow residential street with a car, two cyclists, an older pedestrian, and an adult walking with a child.
Safer streets for everyone.

Vocab List

speed limit (n. phrase) — the fastest speed allowed on a road
share (v.) — to use the same thing or place with other people
residential road (n. phrase) — a road in an area where people live
risk (n.) — the chance that something bad may happen
narrow (adj.) — not wide
on foot (phr.) — walking, not travelling in a car or on a bicycle
serious injury (n. phrase) — bad physical harm to a person
reduce (v.) — to make something less or smaller
Reading

Japan has lowered the speed limit on some narrow residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h. A new rule applies to roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign.

These roads are common in busy Japanese cities. People on foot, including children and older people, can face serious danger when cars travel quickly. The new rule is not for every road in Japan. It is for smaller roads where cars, people and bicycles share limited space.

The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of Japan’s roads. Japan hopes the lower speed will reduce deaths and serious injuries.

Earlier “zone 30” areas showed why speed is important. After Japan introduced these areas in 2011, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.

Police information also showed that people on foot were safer when cars traveled at 30km/h or less. The risk was much higher at faster speeds.

The police are asking drivers to be especially careful on roads shared by cars, people and bicycles. The change puts safety first in the places where people live, walk and play.

Speed Limit Drop in Japan

Level 2 Article Source: theguardian.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Illustrated narrow residential street with a car, two cyclists, an older pedestrian, and an adult walking with a child.
Safer streets for everyone.

Japan has lowered the speed limit on some narrow residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h. A new rule applies to roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign.

These roads are common in busy Japanese cities. People on foot, including children and older people, can face serious danger when cars travel quickly. The new rule is not for every road in Japan. It is for smaller roads where cars, people and bicycles share limited space.

The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of Japan’s roads. Japan hopes the lower speed will reduce deaths and serious injuries.

Earlier “zone 30” areas showed why speed is important. After Japan introduced these areas in 2011, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.

Police information also showed that people on foot were safer when cars traveled at 30km/h or less. The risk was much higher at faster speeds.

The police are asking drivers to be especially careful on roads shared by cars, people and bicycles. The change puts safety first in the places where people live, walk and play.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 2:00  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Japan has (1) the speed limit on some narrow residential roads from 60km/h to 30km/h. A new rule applies to roads with no line in the middle and no speed sign.

These roads are common in busy Japanese cities. People on foot, including children and older people, can face serious (2) when cars travel quickly. The new rule is not for every road in Japan. It is for smaller roads where cars, people and bicycles share limited space.

The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of Japan’s roads. Japan hopes the lower speed will (3) deaths and serious injuries.

Earlier “zone 30” areas showed why speed is important. After Japan (4) these areas in 2011, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.

Police information also showed that people on foot were (5) when cars traveled at 30km/h or less. The risk was much higher at faster speeds.

The police are asking drivers to be especially careful on roads shared by cars, people and bicycles. The change puts safety first in the places where people live, walk and play.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?

    A:

  2. Q: Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?

    A: I think 30km/h is about right for a residential road children often play near homes.

    because / but / so / and

    I think 30km/h is about right for a residential road because children often play near homes.

  2. Q: Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?

    A: Drivers in my area do not usually follow the speed limit because they are in a hurry. , the roads can be dangerous.

    As a result / However / For example / Also

    Drivers in my area do not usually follow the speed limit because they are in a hurry. As a result, the roads can be dangerous.

Discussion Questions
  1. Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?
  2. Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?
  3. The article says cars, bicycles, and people share some roads. Is this common where you live?
  4. What can people on foot and people on bicycles do to reduce risk near traffic?
  5. The article says lower speeds may reduce serious injuries. Do you think drivers will accept this change? Why or why not?
  6. What things do you often share with other people?
  7. What would you like to reduce in your daily life?

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think 30km/h is slow, fast, or about right for a residential road? Why?
  2. Do drivers in your area usually follow the speed limit? Why or why not?
  3. The article says cars, bicycles, and people share some roads. Is this common where you live?
  4. What can people on foot and people on bicycles do to reduce risk near traffic?
  5. The article says lower speeds may reduce serious injuries. Do you think drivers will accept this change? Why or why not?
  6. What things do you often share with other people?
  7. What would you like to reduce in your daily life?

Answers Speed Limit Drop in Japan / Level 2

Listening: (1) lowered, (2) danger, (3) reduce, (4) introduced, (5) safer

Main Idea: Japan lowered speeds on small shared roads to keep people safer.

True or False:

  1. False. It is only for some smaller residential roads.
  2. True. These are the roads named in the new rule.
  3. True. The change includes about 870,000km, or about 70% of the roads.
  4. False. After these areas started, deaths and serious injuries fell by 30%.

Multiple Choice: a, a, a

Vocabulary:

  1. speed limit: the fastest speed allowed on a road
  2. residential road: a road in an area where people live
  3. narrow: not wide
  1. risk: the chance that something bad may happen
  2. reduce: to make something less or smaller

New Sentences: 1. speed limit; 2. residential road; 3. narrow; 4. share; 5. reduce

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Giving a reason. 2) Showing a result.

  1. because
  2. As a result

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