Japan’s National Police Agency on 10 July released a draft revision of Road Traffic Law enforcement rules that will bar foreign tourists and other short-stay visitors from converting overseas driver’s licences into Japanese ones. Applicants will, in principle, have to submit a copy of their residence certificate, closing a loophole that allowed hotel addresses to be used. The agency also proposes making the knowledge test far tougher, expanding the number of questions to 50 from the current 10 and lifting the pass mark to 90 percent. The practical exam would add tasks such as negotiating crosswalks and railway crossings, with scoring aligned to the standards for first-time Japanese licence holders. The overhaul follows a rise in serious accidents involving drivers who obtained licences through the conversion system. Some 68,623 foreigners used the scheme in 2024, roughly 2.4 times the 2015 total, while accidents involving foreign drivers reached 7,286. After a public-comment period, the tighter rules are slated to come into force on 1 October.