Cyclists who use cell phones whereas using in Japan might withstand six months in jail beneath strict new guidelines launched on Friday.
Violators of the revised highway visitors regulation could be jailed for as much as six months or fined 100,000 yen ($655; £508).
In accordance with native media experiences, the variety of accidents involving cyclists has began to climb in 2021 as extra folks select to trip bicycles as an alternative of utilizing public transportation throughout the epidemic. Authorities are actually stepping up efforts to police riders.
In addition to proscribing the usage of cell phones, the brand new guidelines goal drunken cyclists, with penalties of as much as three years in jail or a high-quality of 500,000 yen ($3,278; £2,541).
Osaka authorities confirmed on Friday that that they had recorded 5 violations of the brand new visitors regulation, hours after it got here into impact, together with two drunken cyclists. Though one of many males collided with one other bicycle owner, no accidents have been reported.
In accordance with native media experiences, greater than 72,000 bicycle accidents occurred in Japan in 2023, accounting for greater than 20% of all visitors accidents within the nation.
Within the first half of 2024, one particular person died and 17 have been critically injured in accidents attributable to cyclists utilizing cell phones, the best figures since police started recording such statistics in 2007.
In accordance with police, there have been 454 accidents attributable to cyclists utilizing cell phones between 2018 and 2022, a 50% improve from the earlier 5 years.
The newest guidelines come amid a raft of security rules aimed toward protecting riders and pedestrians secure.
Final 12 months, authorities made it obligatory for cyclists to put on helmets. In Might, Japan’s parliament handed a invoice permitting police to high-quality cyclists who violate visitors guidelines.
