Watch out for cell phones in Japan

Posted 2024-04-20 00:00:00 +0000 UTC

According to Beijing Youth Daily, Japan's latest revised road traffic law will come into force on December 1. Among them, the punishment for the mobile phone operation while driving a motor vehicle has been increased, and the maximum fine has been increased by three times. If it causes danger, it will be subject to criminal punishment or even imprisonment. According to the terms, it is illegal to pick up and call a mobile phone, send and receive messages or watch a smart phone display while driving. Even if there is no danger, the amount of fine will be greatly increased: large cars, ordinary cars, motorcycles and mopeds will be increased from 7000 yen, 6000 yen, 6000 yen and 5000 yen to 25000 yen, 18000 yen, 15000 yen and 12000 yen (about 1614 yuan, 1162 yuan, 968 yuan and 775 yuan) respectively; the points deducted will be changed from 1 point to 3 points; if recidivists, they will be punished in all aspects The penalty for temporary punishment is changed from a fine of less than 50000 yen (3228 yuan) to a fine of less than 100000 yen (6456 yuan) or imprisonment of less than six months. If it causes danger, it will be subject to criminal punishment, fine and term of imprisonment will be increased from 250000 yen (about 16139 yuan) or less than 5 months to 300000 yen (about 19367 yuan) or less than 1 year; the deduction will be changed from 2 points to 6 points, and the driving qualification will be suspended. It is worth noting that this regulation not only regulates the use of mobile phones, but also prohibits drivers from looking at the vehicle navigator while driving. Although the law does not prohibit the use of mobile phones while waiting for traffic lights and when parking in traffic jams, the police still call on people to park their vehicles safely before using mobile phones and other related equipment. Since 1999, Japan began to prohibit using mobile phones while driving, and increased the punishment in 2004, but the illegal acts still exist, even caused serious traffic accidents. In 2016, a truck driver played mobile games while driving, resulting in the death of a 9-year-old boy, and Japanese people further called for the crackdown on such behaviors. According to data from Japanese police, there were 2790 traffic accidents caused by "using mobile phones while driving" in Japan in 2018, 2.3 times as many as 10 years ago, 42 of which were fatal. Among the violations of traffic laws and regulations in Japan in 2018, mobile phone driving ranked third, second only to speeding and illegal parking.

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