3 weeks ago
9
Cyclists utilizing a mobile telephone portion riding successful Japan could look up to six months jailhouse nether strict caller rules introduced Friday.
Those who breach the revised roadworthy postulation instrumentality tin beryllium punished with a maximum condemnation of six months successful prison, oregon a good of 100,000 yen ($655; £508).
The fig of accidents involving cyclists started climbing successful 2021, arsenic much radical opted to rhythm alternatively of utilizing nationalist transport during the pandemic, according to section media. Authorities are present racing to modulate riders.
Besides cracking down connected telephone usage, the caller rules besides people cyclists riding nether the power of alcohol, with a punishment of up to 3 years successful situation oregon a good of 500,000 yen ($3,278; £2,541).
Hours aft the caller laws came into effect, Osaka authorities confirmed connected Friday that they had already recorded 5 violations, including 2 men who were caught riding bicycles portion drunk. One of the men had collided with different cyclist, but nary injuries were reported.
Under the caller rules, cyclists who origin accidents tin beryllium fined up to 300,000 yen ($2,000; £1,500 ) oregon jailed up to a year.
The full fig of postulation accidents crossed Japan whitethorn beryllium declining, but bicycle accidents are connected the rise. More than 72,000 bicycle accidents were recorded successful Japan successful 2023, accounting for implicit 20% of each postulation accidents successful the country, according to section media.
In the archetypal fractional of 2024 determination was 1 fatality and 17 superior injuries from accidents involving cyclists utilizing their phones — the highest fig since the constabulary started signaling specified statistic successful 2007.
Between 2018 and 2022 determination were 454 accidents caused by cyclists utilizing phones, according to constabulary — a 50% summation from the erstwhile five-year period.
The latest rules travel amid a bid of information regulations aimed astatine protecting the information of riders and pedestrians.
Last year, authorities made it compulsory for cyclists to deterioration helmets. In May, Japan’s parliament passed a measure allowing constabulary to good cyclists for postulation violations.
Unlike successful galore different countries, cycling connected pavements is ineligible successful Japan, and is simply a communal practice.
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