The National Police Agency has reported that the number of traffic violations by users of electric scooters, which have been permitted under certain conditions without a driver's license since July 2023, was 25,156 in the 12 months to June this year.
In July last year, the revised Road Traffic Act came into effect, allowing people aged 16 and over to ride electric scooters that meet certain standards, such as maximum speed and vehicle size, without a driver's license.
The NPA said the most common offenses were traffic lane violations, such as entering the sidewalk without switching to a slower speed mode (13,842 cases), followed by ignoring traffic lights ( 7,725) and failing to stop at stop signs (1,455 cases). There were also 194 cases of drunk driving.
Meanwhile, 226 people were injured in accidents involving electric scooters but no deaths were reported. By prefecture, Tokyo accounted for 165 cases, or 75% of the total.
The NPA is calling for strict adherence to traffic rules and will focus on cracking down on serious traffic violations such as drunk driving.
© Japan Today
6 Comments
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factchecker
We're these fines? If so how much was the penalty charge?
Never seen cops get out of their kobans to enforce these or cycling rule breakers in my area of Tokyo.
falseflagsteve
These things get in my wick at times, bombing around like nutters and all that. Well, when you lie in a busy area like I do they can be dangerous you see. I’ll stick to cycling or walking, thank you kindly.
リッチ
LUUP should take responsibility. Many of their scooters are broken parts which is illegal under Japanese law and they encourage strangers to go into areas they normally wouldn’t in the search for coupon parking bringing with it noise, strangers to the area and security issues, extra rubbish and just overall annoying the Neighboor like airbnb people did. When is Japan going to implement the law and prohibit broken units from being used and stop getting strangers into areas they normally wouldn’t. Not only safety while riding but overall just bad.
wallace
I have never seen one where I live. People still use bicycles.
Martimurano
These e-machines are a nuisance the world over - ridden by people who don't give a fig for the safety and welfare of pedestrians anywhere. If the figures are to be believed, it's impressive that the J-cops have been so diligent in recording such a high number of violations; I just hope that they also lead to big-fines being dished-out too, as a message to others: Safety First.
wallace
Many major western cities like London for instance, have an e-bike litter nuisance.