15,900 bicycle blue tickets issued in six months after introduction, highest number of smartphones, accidents reduced by 10% - National Police Agency

Regarding the traffic violation notification system (blue ticket), which imposes fines for minor bicycle violations, the National Police Agency announced as of the 6th that the number of blue tickets issued nationwide in the six months since its introduction in April had reached 15,919 (provisional figure). ``Driving while using a smartphone'' while driving was the most common, accounting for over 40% of respondents. Traffic accidents involving bicycles decreased by just under 10% compared to the same period last year, and the agency analyzed that ``the introduction of blue tickets may have increased safety awareness among users.''

90% of people use bicycles, ``dangerous'' riding on roads, blue ticket for 6 months, requests for dedicated lanes

Blue tickets impose fines for 113 types of traffic violations for people 16 and older. According to the agency, 6,904 (43%) green tickets were issued for "while driving", which was the most common ticket issued between April and September. This was followed by ``failure to stop'' at 5,559 (35%), ``ignoring a traffic light'' at 1,374 (9%), and 5 types, including entering a closed railroad crossing and driving on the right side (driving the wrong way), accounted for approximately 96%.

By prefecture, Tokyo had the highest number of cases at 2,977, followed by Osaka at 2,853, Saitama at 1,893, and Aichi at 1,725. There were large regional differences, with only one case each in Yamagata, Mie, Tokushima, and Nagasaki. The number of guidance warning slips issued also varied widely, from the highest number in Osaka at 183,364 to the lowest in Tottori at 383.

An official at the agency said that the policy, which prioritizes guidance and warnings except for egregious and dangerous violations, is uniform across the country, and added, ``We will continue to work to ensure proper operation of the system and thorough dissemination of traffic rules.We will also keep a close eye on how the system is being implemented in light of local circumstances.''

The number of accidents involving bicycles from April to September was 31,021, down 9.1% from the same period last year, and the number of deaths and injuries was 29,827, down 9.7%. Overall accidents involving automobiles decreased by about 2% in terms of both the number of accidents and the number of casualties, suggesting that the system may have led to a reduction in accidents.