Cyclists using phones to be fined up to Y50,000

Ok,it's not this country,but it shows you how other countries take this
seriously:



Cyclists using phones to be fined up to Y50,000

Authorities in Osaka Prefecture have finally put their foot down on
cyclists who yap while they pedal. Tokyo Shimbun (Dec 1) reports that
effective Monday, people in the prefecture caught using cell phones
while riding a bicycle could be fined up to 50,000 yen.

In 2007, 18,500 bicycle accidents were reported in Osaka Prefecture and
in many cases, the cause was found to be people steering with one hand
or distracted while using a cell phone.

Over three-day periods in July and August, prefectural police in Osaka
and Sakai cities observed that of 1,380 passing cyclists, 214, (15.5%),
were listening to music players and 50 (3.6%) were using mobile phones.

In addition to banning talking on cell phones while cycling, Osaka’s new
law applies to cyclists who use the phones to send messages or play
games while in motion.

Laws prohibiting such activities are already in force in Akita, Hyogo
and Tokushima Prefectures.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/k...d-up-to-y50000

Bod

On Jul 4, 3:16*pm, Bod wrote:
Ok,it's not this country,but it shows you how other countries take this
seriously:

Cyclists using phones to be fined up to Y50,000

Authorities in Osaka Prefecture have finally put their foot down on
cyclists who yap while they pedal. Tokyo Shimbun (Dec 1) reports that
effective Monday, people in the prefecture caught using cell phones
while riding a bicycle could be fined up to 50,000 yen.

In 2007, 18,500 bicycle accidents were reported in Osaka Prefecture and
in many cases, the cause was found to be people steering with one hand
or distracted while using a cell phone.

Over three-day periods in July and August, prefectural police in Osaka
and Sakai cities observed that of 1,380 passing cyclists, 214, (15.5%),
were listening to music players and 50 (3.6%) were using mobile phones.

In addition to banning talking on cell phones while cycling, Osaka’s new
law applies to cyclists who use the phones to send messages or play
games while in motion.

Laws prohibiting such activities are already in force in Akita, Hyogo
and Tokushima Prefectures.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/k...sts-using-phon...

Bod

Would you like Japanese law with regard to cyclists to be adopted here
bod?

Including allowing cycling on the pavement?

On Jul 4, 11:16*pm, Bod wrote:
Ok,it's not this country,but it shows you how other countries take this
seriously:

Cyclists using phones to be fined up to Y50,000

Yeah, and cyclists riding tandems can be fined up to ¥20,000

but I've never heard of it happening (there was one widely reported
case of two children riding a single bike, which comes under the same
law).

Also, I believe that there may be some obligation for parents to try
to make their children wear helmets, but there is no penalty for non-
compliance (quite a lot of Japanese laws run on similar lines).

James