Cyclists who use a mobile phone while riding in Japan could face up to six months in jail under tough new laws introduced on Friday.
Those who violate the revised traffic law can be punished with a maximum sentence of six months in prison, or a fine of 100,000 yen ($655; £508).
The number of accidents involving cyclists began to rise in 2021, as more people chose to ride bicycles instead of using public transport during the violence, according to local media. Authorities are now racing to control the passengers.
Apart from violating the use of the phone, the new laws also target cyclists who ride drunk, with penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,278; £2,541).
Within hours of the new rules coming into force, Osaka authorities confirmed on Friday that they had recorded five cases of breaking the new traffic law, including two men who were caught riding bicycles drunk. When one of the men collided with another cyclist, no one was reported injured.
More than 72,000 bicycle accidents were recorded in Japan by 2023, accounting for more than 20% of all road accidents in the country, according to local media.
In the first half of 2024 there was one death and 17 serious injuries in crashes involving cyclists using their phones – the highest number since police began recording such figures in 2007.
Between 2018 and 2022 there were 454 accidents caused by cyclists using phones, according to the police – a 50% increase from the previous five years.
The latest laws come amid a series of safety laws aimed at protecting the safety of commuters and pedestrians.
Last year, the authorities forced cyclists to wear helmets. In May, Japan’s parliament passed a bill allowing police to fine cyclists for traffic violations.
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