A recent report by the National Police Agency of Japan highlights a troubling trend in traffic safety, revealing that in 2025, there were 3,269 reported collisions between bicycles and pedestrians, marking the highest number since 2006, which is when statistics began to be recorded. Alarmingly, the data shows that 99.9% of these incidents involved violations on the part of cyclists. This statistic has prompted the National Police Agency to increase its efforts to promote adherence to traffic regulations among cyclists.

The increase in bicycle-pedestrian collisions is concerning, especially as the National Police Agency indicates that over half of the accidents occurred either on sidewalks or at crosswalks. In 2024, there were 356 severe injuries or fatalities linked to these collisions, with the majority of the serious cases involving injuries or deaths to pedestrians, in stark contrast to the minor number of serious outcomes for cyclists involved in the same incidents.

Additionally, a recent amendment to traffic laws came into effect in April 2023 aiming to improve traffic safety; however, the focus on strict penalties for infraction related to drinking and distracted riding appears to have diminished. This raises questions about the effectiveness of current measures in addressing the increase in cyclist-related infractions and the ongoing risk to pedestrian safety on Japan’s roads.