Cyclists may be fined or jailed for using their cellphones while cycling or riding under the influence of alcohol from Nov. 1, when Japan’s revised road traffic law goes into effect, as officials crack down on increasing traffic violations and rising numbers of arrests involving them.
The revision will penalize cyclists who use their phones — for calls, texting or even by just staring at them — while riding with fines of up to ¥100,000 ($675) or a prison term of up to six months. If they cause an accident, such as hitting a pedestrian, they can be fined up to ¥300,000 or jailed up to a year.
Currently, all prefectures impose fines of up to ¥50,000 on those who use their cellphones while cycling.
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