Tightens the rules • Classified as a moped – requires a driver’s license and safety equipment
The ride-on suitcases, which can reach speeds of up to 13 kilometers per hour, have become increasingly popular among travelers in Japan.
The growing popularity is now worrying Japanese authorities after an increase in the number of incidents. Several airports in the country have tightened the rules, according to Kyodo news agency.
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport banned the use of the suitcases in terminals in February to avoid collisions with other travelers.
Narita International Airport, the second largest in the Japanese capital, has asked travelers to be aware of their surroundings due to the increased use of carry-on suitcases.
Classified as a moped
But it is not only at airports that suitcases cause problems. They have become a safety issue even out on the roads. Japan has therefore passed laws requiring a driver’s license to ride on a similar suitcase.
According to Japanese law, the suitcases are classified as a motorized vehicle, in the same way as some types of mopeds. They must therefore be registered and equipped with rear-view mirrors and indicators. In addition, drivers are required to wear a helmet and have insurance to avoid fines.
First person to be fined
In June, a Chinese woman in her 30s studying in the country became the first to be fined for riding a suitcase on a sidewalk in the city of Osaka without a driver’s license, according to the paper.
And in July, a boy from Indonesia was stopped by the police for carrying a suitcase along a street through a shopping district in Osaka.