Japan has introduced strict new regulations targeting cyclists with penalties and jail for mobile phone use and alcohol consumption while riding.
Under the revised road traffic law, cyclists caught using a mobile phone while riding face up to six months in jail or a $655vfine.
$3,278 Fine For Drunk Riding
Those riding under the influence of alcohol can put cyclists for three years in jail or a fine of $3,278.
These measures follow a rise in bicycle accidents, which surged as more people turned to cycling over public transport during the pandemic.
In 2023 alone, bicycle accidents comprised over 20% of all traffic incidents in Japan, amounting to more than 72,000 cases.
The first half of 2024 saw 17 serious injuries and one fatality tied to cyclists using phones, the highest since such statistics began in 2007.
