Under the rules issued in November 2024, those caught drinking and riding bicycles could face up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of 500,000 yen.
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Japanese police have cracked down on drunk cyclists, with nearly 900 cyclists having their driving licenses suspended, local media reported.
These cyclists are seen as a serious danger even when driving a car, so the license has been suspended, officials said. The number of people whose car driving licenses were revoked from January to September has increased significantly compared to last year. This situation has arisen after Japan introduced a rule that imposes very strict penalties on cyclists who drink and drive.
According to the new rule introduced in November last year, cyclists who drink and drive can be imprisoned for up to three years and fined a maximum of 500,000 yen.
Cyclists are fined if their breath alcohol test indicates 0.15 milligrams per liter or higher.
Before the implementation of this rule, only drivers who were unable to drive after drinking were fined.
However, now those who feed cyclists alcohol and allow people who have been drinking to ride are also subject to action.
‘Drunk cycling can lead to serious accidents,’ a police officer told the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. ‘I hope everyone will obey the rules. Let’s not drink and drive.’
According to police, 4500 cyclists were caught drunk between November 2024 and June this year.
The number of cyclists in Japan has been increasing since the Covid pandemic. However, as bicycles have become a reliable means of transport, accidents have also increased.
In 2023, 72,000 people were involved in bicycle accidents. That was 20 percent of the country’s total accidents.
