Traffic Rules for Specified Small Motorized Bicycles

What are specified small motorized bicycles?
Motorized bicycles that meet all the following criteria【Vehicle Size】
Length: Up to 190cm
Width: Up to 60cm
【Vehicle Structure】○ Cannot accelerate over 20km/h○ Cannot change the top speed setting while driving○ Automatic Transmission (AT)○ Maximum speed indicating light installedetc.

Relevant NPA
webpage

From July 1, 2023, vehicles that may look like electric scooters but fall out of these criteria willremain subject to the traffic rules for general motorized bicycles or motor vehicles according to theirvehicle classifications. Driving license is required to drive these vehicles.

Drivers’ age limit○Must be 16 years old or above
Those under 16 years old are prohibited from driving specified
small motorized bicycles.

Basic traffic rules you should know before you drive○Compliance with safety standards
To drive specified small motorized bicycles,

1) The vehicles must meet the safety standards set by the Road Transport Vehicle Act,
2) You must be covered with compulsory automobile liability insurance, and3) Number plates must be attached to the vehicles.
※ Due to safety reasons, municipalities will sequentially issue number plates that aresmaller than conventional one to fit within the vehicle width.
You may apply for small number plates even if you already have conventional numberplates issued. Please install them to ensure safety.
Small Number Plates

Performance
Certificates○

Driving under the influence of alcohol is absolutely prohibited

Do not drive after drinking alcohol.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is an extremely
serious and dangerous crime.

Drivable Lanes○

Drive on the roadways
Drive on the roadways. (You may also drive on the bicycle path).
Drive on the left edge of the road. Do not drive on the right sides.
【Driving lanes for specified small motorized bicycles】“Bicycles and Specified Small
Motorized Bicycles Only”○“Traffic Lanes Exclusivefor Standard Bicycles”

How to turn・Turing Left
When turning left, ensure
safety of the rear, turn on theleft turn signal beforehand,proceed along the left edge ofthe road and sufficiently
decelerate to turn without
blocking the crossingpedestrians.

・Turning Right
At any intersection, specified
small motorized bicycles must
make ‘2-step right turns’.
(※)※

Cross the street on a green
light, then turn the vehicle rightto cross again after the front
signal turns green.

Basic Traffic Rules○

Obey the traffic light signals
You must obey the traffic light signals .

○Prohibition of entry

Do not drive on streets or part of the streets where its passage/traffic is
prohibited by road signs.
【Major Relevant Road Signs】“Road Closed”“Road closed to “Prohibition onvehicles”
Vehicle”“Road Closed toBicycles andSpecified SmallMotorized
Bicycles”“Prohibited fromProceeding
Except in theDirection“One Way”
Indicated”

Traffic of specified small motorized bicycles
is prohibited○“One Way for
Bicycles andSpecified Small
Motorized
Bicycles”

Must also obey these signs

Where to stop

At stop signs, stop immediately in front of the stop lines (or immediatelyin front of the intersections if there are no stop lines).
“Stop”○

Yield to Pedestrians/Pedestrians First
When pedestrians are crossing or about to cross the pedestriancrossings, stop immediately in front of the pedestrian crossings (orimmediately in front of the stop lines) and yield to pedestrians.

○Other rules to follow

It is prohibited to drive while talking on yoursmartphones or focusing attention on their screens.

Exceptional cases where traffic on sidewalks are allowed
The vehicles which meet all the criteria of exceptional specified small
motorized bicycles may drive on sidewalks indicated with signs of “Standard
Bicycles and Pedestrians Only”.
【Criteria of exceptional specified small motorized bicycles】○ Flickering maximum speed indicating light (green lights)○ Cannot accelerate over 6km/h etc.
※ vehicles that can accelerate over 6km/h with throttle operations do not meet thecriteria of exceptional specified small motorized bicycles and thus may not driveon sidewalks.

When driving on sidewalks, drive on the near-road side of pedestriansidewalks or on “the part of sidewalk for use by standard bicycles”.
On sidewalks, do not prevent pedestrians from proceeding.
【Driving on sidewalks】“Standard Bicycles and Pedestrians Only”

For safe driving○Wearing Bike Helmets
Wear bike helmets to protect your heads and mitigate damage fromtraffic accidents.

In case of traffic accidents
If traffic accidents occur, the drivers of the specified small motorized
bicycles must rescue the injured and immediately report the accidents tothe police. Otherwise, the accidents will be treated as hit-and-run cases.
In case of traffic accidents, the drivers must take the following actions:(1) To prevent blocking other traffic and sequential accidents, pull off tosafe places (e.g., road shoulders or blank spaces) and turn off theengine.
(2) If there are injured persons, conduct possible rescue activities e.g.,
stop the bleeding by using gauze or clean handkerchiefs until physicians
and ambulances arrive. Do not move the injured, particularly if the headis injured. However, promptly rescue and move the injured to a safe
place when sequential accidents by the cars behind may occur.
(3) Report the location of accident, number of the injured and degrees ofinjuries, degrees of property damage, load of the accident vehicles to thepolice officers and receive instructions.