![[Traffic Safety Senryu] Outstanding works shining with humor and lessons. A carefully selected line to always keep in mind.](https://media.ragnet.co.jp/img/1200__png__https://www.ragnet.co.jp/files/2026/02/a4202435ab40912be43138b5980c8d52.webp)
[Traffic Safety Senryu] Outstanding works shining with humor and lessons. A carefully selected line to always keep in mind.
Have you heard of the Traffic Safety Senryu that many people submit to every year?Riding the 5-7-5 rhythm, these humorous verses about the importance of traffic rules and the everyday experiences of drivers and pedestrians range from those that make you chuckle to ones that really make you think.They’re packed with lines that make you relate—“Ah, that might be me”—and words you’ll want to keep close to your heart.In this article, we’ll introduce traffic safety senryu that truly resonate.Through works that capture ordinary everyday moments, why not take a fresh look at traffic safety and manners?
[Traffic Safety Senryu] Outstanding works where humor and lessons shine. Carefully selected lines to always keep in mind (1–10)
Look at the line, not your smartphone—look at the stop line.NEW!
The concrete word “stop line” is a line that suddenly applies the brakes to the heart.
By deliberately contrasting it with the familiar presence of LINE notifications we can’t help but glance at, the danger of distracted driving comes through all the more clearly.
Contrary to its light 5-7-5 rhythm, the message embedded within is very serious.
It reminds us anew of the obvious fact that our gaze should be directed not at the screen but at the road ahead.
I felt it was a work with strong power as a cautionary reminder—one that makes you straighten your back just by reading it.
Take off your earphones and listen to the sounds of the townNEW!
It’s a line that gently questions our earbud-filled daily habits.
With a soft touch, it conveys the danger of focusing so much on music or calls that we miss the presence around us or the sound of approaching cars.
The phrase “the sounds of the town” is striking—it evokes not only horns and bicycle bells, but also footsteps and even the feel of the wind.
I felt it’s a piece that reminds us not only of safety, but also of the mental space and richness to notice the small changes of everyday life.
The patience to wait—both cars and people yield to one anotherNEW!
This verse makes you feel that those brief moments of waiting at a red light or crosswalk—that small “willingness to wait” for just a few seconds—can be a powerful force in preventing accidents.
When we’re in a hurry, we tend to want to rush ahead, but it gently reminds us of the importance of both drivers and pedestrians taking a step back.
The closing word, “mutual yielding,” is striking, leaving a message that a traffic society cannot function with just one person.
Even in our busy daily lives, recalling this verse seems likely to lead to calmer driving and conduct.
In my dictionary, there are no words for drinking or road rage.NEW!
A single line like a powerful declaration leaves a strong impression.
The phrase “does not exist in my dictionary” conveys a sense of firm will and pride.
The stance of flatly rejecting drunk driving and aggressive driving comes across cleanly and directly.
While it includes humor, what underlies it is an unwavering commitment to safety.
It teaches the importance of having clear standards for one’s own behavior.
I felt it’s a highly message-driven piece that makes readers naturally wonder, “What’s in my own dictionary?”
It’s cooler to yield than to provoke.NEW!
It’s a refreshing line that delivers its message clearly without using strong words.
While it touches on the social issue of aggressive driving, it leaves a strong impression by ending with the positive value of being “cool.” It teaches that true coolness lies not in winning by force, but in having composure and kindness.
Emotions can easily run high while driving, but with just a little willingness to yield, the atmosphere becomes much calmer.
I felt this senryu is a modern, highly relatable piece that makes us realize each driver’s awareness can change the mood on the road.
What you should be looking at isn’t your phone, but the road ahead.NEW!
This is a verse that expresses a uniquely modern issue in straightforward words.
In that instant when our gaze slips down to the smartphone in our hand, it jolts us into awareness.
It’s striking how gently yet powerfully it conveys the dangers of walking while using a phone or driving while distracted.
The phrase “the path ahead” seems to carry not only the meaning of safety but also of the future.
The message that there are things more important than the screen before our eyes lingers in the heart, making this a verse that prompts us to rethink our daily behavior.
Keeping a safe following distance and a calm mind prevents accidentsNEW!
On ordinary roads, it’s said that an appropriate following distance is roughly your speed minus 15 meters, or enough that your car passes a fixed point about two seconds after the car ahead passes it.
Unfortunately, some people close the gap because they’re in a hurry or don’t want others to cut in.
In worse cases, they tailgate to intimidate.
However, driving or stopping with too little following distance can lead to accidents.
As this senryu expresses, keep a calm mind—and keep ample space between cars!
