Rising Illegal Electric Scooter Acts: Signal Jumping and Double Riding
The number of young people using electric kickboards is rapidly increasing, sparked by the "LUUP" sharing service. ...... However, there is no end to the number of dangerous drivers who "run the wrong way," "ride with two people," and "ignore traffic signals.
At the intersection of a major street late at night, the signal is red. After confirming that there are no following cars behind the taxi crossing, the driver ignores the signal and turns left.I get nervous every time I see an electric kickboard.
“There is a one-way slope near my house, and when I was driving my car there, I suddenly came across an electric kickboard at the top of the hill. I had to slam on the brakes. The rider was speeding the wrong way, right down the center of the road from the exit of the one-way street. I narrowly avoided a head-on collision, but if we had collided, I might have ended up being the one at fault. Since then, I get nervous every time I see an electric kickboard while driving.”
This terrifying experience shared by Company employee A, who lives in Tokyo, is one that many drivers can probably relate to.
From July 2023 to June 2024, traffic violations by electric kickboard users reached a staggering 25,000 cases. During the same period, there were 219 reported traffic accidents involving injuries, a significant increase from 41 cases in 2022. In December 2023, a tragic accident occurred when a woman in her 30s entered an intersection on a red light and collided with a bus, resulting in her death. FRIDAY has also repeatedly witnessed violations such as riding with two people and running red lights.
The sharp increase in traffic violations and accidents is attributed to the rapid rise in users. Freelance writer Aki Hashimoto explains:
“In April 2021, electric kickboard sharing services were launched in Tokyo, Osaka, and other areas as part of a pilot program. The maximum speed was set at 15 km/h, and only those with a driver’s license were allowed to ride. However, in July 2023, the Road Traffic Act was amended, and a new category called ‘Specific Small Motorized Bicycles’ was created.
Under the new law, anyone 16 years or older could ride electric kickboards with a maximum speed of 20 km/h without a license. This legal change led to rapid growth, and by August 2023, the number of rental and return points for the industry leader ‘LUUP’ surged from 4,000 to over 10,000 in just one year.”
The convenience itself is the cause of violations and accidents.
The usage of “LUUP” is extremely simple. By installing the dedicated app on your smartphone and scanning the QR code on an electric kickboard at a port in the city, you can use it for a basic fee of 50 yen + 15 yen per minute. The fee for the existing electric assist bicycle rental service, “Bike Share Service,” is 165 yen for 30 minutes. “LUUP” is gaining popularity, especially among young people, due to its affordability and convenience.
However, it is this very convenience that has been the cause of violations and accidents. According to Mr. Hashimoto:
“Special small motorcycles are treated similarly to bicycles. The reverse driving of an electric kickboard experienced by Mr. A, for example, would not be a violation if the one-way street sign said excluding bicycles. The tricky part is that although it is treated almost like a bicycle, when turning, users need to signal with their indicators, and they must follow road signs intended for vehicles. However, users without a driver’s license ride with the mindset of riding a bicycle, which leads to a series of accidents and troubles.”
In line with the legal revisions, “LUUP” introduced a traffic rules test and requires electric kickboard users to answer all 11 questions correctly. However, the content consists of simple true/false questions, such as “It’s fine to ride on any sidewalk” and “As a general rule, you must ride along the leftmost edge of the roadway.” Even if you get an answer wrong, you can retake the test as many times as necessary. When asked about the frequent violations and accidents, the PR department of “LUUP” responded:
“We are saddened by and take seriously the occurrence of some accidents and violations. For users who engage in malicious violations, we are working with the police to take actions such as suspending their accounts.”
Since this year, “LUUP” has introduced a traffic violation points system, limiting usage based on violation points. However, automotive critic Mr. Mitsuhiro Kunisawa raises a warning:
“There is still insufficient enforcement. Since this is a type of vehicle that has never existed before, those enforcing the rules may be inexperienced, but if the enforcement is not strengthened, it could become a lawless zone. By conducting focused enforcement during special months, I believe adherence to laws will improve.”
Electric kickboards, touted for their low CO2 emissions and contribution to building a sustainable society, can become either a sustainable mode of transportation or outlaws on the road, depending on how they are operated.
From the December 6, 2024 issue of FRIDAY
PHOTO： Takeno Yui
