Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Important information from Fukuoka City】

The special fixed relief benefits

This is just a reminder, but the application deadline for the 100,000 yen special relief benefits is drawing near. It is August 31st. Applications were sent to everyone who registered by April 27th as a Fukuoka City resident. Please make sure you get your application in by the deadline! If there is anything that you don’t understand please call 092-401-0826 for help or information. Again that number is 092-401-0826. This phone service is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and consultation is available in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Nepali.

And, Love FM has been broadcasting a special 5 minute program to help you understand more about the special relief money. The program is called “Life in Fukuoka Special Edition-Understanding the Fixed Relief Benefits in 5 Minutes" and it is on every Monday and Saturday at 1:53pm in English.  You can also listen to this special program as a podcast at anytime on the Love FM Homepage so definitely check it out.

About Drunk Driving

Moving on to a more sobering topic, I don't know if you know, but on August 25^th, 2006, a horrific drunk driving accident occurred. In the Higashi ward, 3 children were killed by a drunk driver. That accident prompted Fukuoka City to take serious actions against drunk driving so that it would never happen again. However, despite these measures, people continue to drive drunk. In fact, in 2020, there have already been 39 incidents involving drunk drivers. Drunk driving is a crime!

After drinking, operating a motor vehicle, motor bike or bicycle is not permitted.

Lending a car to someone who has drunk, or encouraging or forcing someone who is driving to drink is also, absolutely, not okay. And if you know that someone has been drinking, you should not ride in their car.

If you drink and then drive, the possibility of getting involved in an accident is dangerously high. Your judgement and the attention you need for safe driving is reduced. Your ability to recognize high speeds or dangerous situations will be impaired and the time it'll take you hit the brakes will be delayed.

So, it is important that each and every one of us remembers “Do not drink and drive, Do not let others drink and drive! “ This year is the 14^th year of that terrible accident and from the 25^th to the 31^st of August, in remembrance, Fukuoka City Hall will have a “Messages of Life” exhibition in the first floor lobby. So, let us reflect on the tragedy that drunk driving causes, remember the victims and get rid of drunk driving together.