Japan eyes jail terms for drivers caught using mobile phones
- Last year there were 2,832 traffic accidents that led to injuries and deaths because of mobile phone use, marking a 50 per cent increase from 2012
Penalties for driving while using a mobile phone in Japan will be toughened with prison terms and more fines following a surge in the number of accidents, according to a bill released on Thursday.
Those caught distracted while driving are subject to fines under current law, but calls for tougher penalties have been growing particularly after a fatal accident in 2016 that saw a 9-year-old boy die after being hit by a truck whose driver was playing the popular smartphone game “Pokemon Go.”
The National Police Agency will solicit public comments on the bill to revise the nation’s road traffic law for about a month from Tuesday before finalising it.
The number of traffic accidents that have led to injuries and deaths because of mobile phone use hit 2,832 last year, marking a 50 per cent increase from 2012. Of the total, 40 were fatal, according to police.
While the current law states that those who use a mobile phone while driving a vehicle will be fined up to 50,000 yen (US$447), the new bill calls for a fine of up to 100,000 yen (US$895) or a prison term of up to six months.