Cyccatalogs using a mobile phone while riding in Japan could face up to six months jail under cut offe novel rules presentd Friday.
Those who baccomplish the alterd road traffic law can be punished with a peak sentence of six months in prison, or a fine of 100,000 yen ($655; £508).
The number of accidents involving cyccatalogs begined climbing in 2021, as more people selected to cycle instead of using disclose carry during the pandemic, according to local media. Authorities are now racing to regutardy riders.
Besides cracking down on phone usage, the novel rules also aim cyccatalogs riding under the affect of spirits, with a penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,278; £2,541).
Hours after the novel laws came into effect, Osaka authorities verifyed on Friday that they had already recorded five violations, including two men who were caught riding bicycles while drunk. One of the men had collided with another cyccatalog, but no injuries were alerted.
Under the novel rules, cyccatalogs who cause accidents can be fined up to 300,000 yen ($2,000; £1,500 ) or jailed up to a year.
The total number of traffic accidents atraverse Japan may be declining, but bicycle accidents are on the ascfinish. More than 72,000 bicycle accidents were recorded in Japan in 2023, accounting for over 20% of all traffic accidents in the country, according to local media.
In the first half of 2024 there was one overweightality and 17 solemn injuries from accidents involving cyccatalogs using their phones — the highest number since the police begined recording such statistics in 2007.
Between 2018 and 2022 there were 454 accidents caused by cyccatalogs using phones, according to police — a 50% incrrelieve from the previous five-year period.
The tardyst rules come amid a series of shieldedty regulations aimed at shielding the shieldedty of riders and pedestrians.
Last year, authorities made it compulsory for cyccatalogs to wear helmets. In May, Japan’s parliament passed a bill apverifying police to fine cyccatalogs for traffic violations.
Unappreciate in many other countries, cycling on pavements is legitimate in Japan, and is a common rehearse.
