TOKYO, Jun 13 (News On Japan) –
Riding a bicycle whereas holding an umbrella, a observe typically seen throughout the wet season in Japan, poses important hazard because it turns into extra frequent with the arrival of June rains.
Under revisions to the Road Traffic Act taking impact in April 2026, cyclists caught holding umbrellas whereas using will face a tremendous of 5000 yen.
The risks aren’t hypothetical. Accidents have already occurred because of this observe. Footage captured by a automotive’s dashboard digital camera on a transparent street reveals a collision moments after the automobile passes by an intersection. A bike owner using whereas holding an umbrella all of a sudden emerges from between oncoming vehicles and crashes.
Riding with an umbrella obstructs imaginative and prescient and destabilizes steering and stability, considerably growing the danger of accidents.
According to a check carried out by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), the stopping distance for a bike owner using appropriately was measured at a chosen level marked by purple pylons. When the bike owner held an umbrella, the braking distance prolonged by practically one meter.
Kikuchi Kazunori of JAF’s Shizuoka department commented: “Brakes are designed to be operated with both hands. Using only one hand extends the stopping distance, making it extremely dangerous. People must stop this behavior entirely.”
Source: FNN