New cycling law in Japan. (file photo)
Concerned about people staying glued to their phones while cycling, Japan has enacted strict new laws to control such people. Starting today, anyone caught using a phone while riding a bicycle can face a jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen (around Rs 55,000).
Now, you might think that putting someone in jail for a scroll while riding a bike is a bit serious. Of course, you have every right to have this opinion, but consider this.
In fact, there has been a huge increase in bicycle traffic accidents since 2021, when most people started cycling to work to avoid Covid. Between 2018 and 2022, there has been a 50 percent increase in accidents caused by people looking at their phones while cycling.
In 2023, there were more than 72,000 bicycle accidents in Japan, accounting for 20 percent of all traffic accidents nationwide. These numbers continued to increase in the first half of 2024, resulting in one death and 17 serious injuries. This is the highest number since records began in 2007.
Let us tell you that if someone is caught riding a bicycle while intoxicated in Japan, they can face a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine of 500,000 yen, which is approximately Rs 274,000. If you cause an accident while riding a bicycle while intoxicated, you can be fined 300,000 yen (approximately Rs 1 lakh 64,000) and one year in jail. Just hours after the law went into effect, Osaka police had recorded five violations, including a collision between two drunk cyclists.
