Japan Issues New Safety Measures for School-Related Travel (Japan, June 2026)
MEXT and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism compiled new measures to secure safety during school-related travel by motor vehicle. The measures respond to a serious May 2026 accident during travel for extracurricular activity.
MEXT and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism compiled new measures to secure safety during school-related travel by motor vehicle. The measures respond to a serious May 2026 accident during travel for extracurricular activity.
What Changed?
The new package sets out seven safety areas: governance, appropriate operator selection, contract transparency and documentation, rental-car contracting, safety-management checklists for private or rental vehicles, driver arrangements, staff riding with students, and safety awareness and training.
Old System vs New System
Schools had general safety responsibilities and a May 19 notice on travel for club activities, but no consolidated package covering these seven vehicle-travel safety points had been issued.
Schools and school operators must consider the new cross-ministry measures when arranging school-related travel, regardless of whether the school is national, public, or private.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
Students may see tighter travel rules for club trips, school excursions, off-campus activities, and other school-related vehicle travel.
Parent / Family Impact
Parents may receive more detailed information on travel operators, vehicle arrangements, supervision, and safety checks.
School / Institution Impact
Schools need to review travel governance, contractor selection, rental-car use, documentation, checklists, and staff roles before trips.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Teachers supervising trips may face clearer responsibilities for travel planning, checking arrangements, and safety training.
Key Dates
- 2026-05-19: earlier notice on club-activity travel safety
- 2026-06-30: new safety-measure package issued
What To Do
- Schools should apply the new flowchart and Q&A before arranging vehicle travel and keep written records of operator selection
- contracts
- and safety checks.
What To Watch Next
Implementation will depend on how boards of education, private school operators, and individual schools revise trip-planning procedures.
Global Context
The change reflects a broader international trend toward formal risk management for school transport, excursions, and extracurricular travel.
Source Record
Source type: circular
Source name: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan