A 29-year-old man in Chiba was documented prosecuted for violating traffic laws by failing to attend mandatory training for dangerous driving involving an electric kickboard, marking the first case of its kind in Japan.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department reported on April 4 that a self-employed man, aged 29 and residing in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, was documented prosecuted for violating the Road Traffic Act due to his failure to attend mandatory training after repeatedly engaging in dangerous driving with an electric kickboard. The man admitted to the allegations but claimed during voluntary questioning that he did not agree with the enforcement actions, which led to his non-compliance with training requirements.
Under Japanese law, electric kickboards are classified as specific small motorized bicycles, and as stated by the police, this is the first legal action taken for a violation of attendance to mandated training after dangerous driving behavior. The man had previously ignored summonses from the Tokyo Public Safety Commission to attend this training, despite having been cited multiple times for infractions including running red lights and riding on sidewalks during his last recorded offenses in October 2024.
According to traffic laws, specific small vehicles are subject to strict regulations that outline 17 types of dangerous behavior, which include offenses related to traffic signals and driving restrictions. If a driver repeats such violations two or more times within three years, attending the training becomes mandatory. Since the enforcement of the operator training system in July 2023, more than 2,500 individuals have participated, showcasing the growing scrutiny and need for compliance regarding the use of electric kickboards in Japan.
