‘Don’t drink and ride’: 900 drivers in Japan had their licences suspended for drink-cycling

Hundreds of people in Japan this year have had their motor vehicle driver's licence suspended for being drunk while cycling.

Across Japan, 896 people had their driver’s licences suspended for riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol from January to September this year.

That’s up from just two people during the same period last year, according to the National Police Agency (NPA).

Since the revised Road Traffic Law took effect in November last year, making cycling at or above a certain blood alcohol level a punishable offence, there has been an increase in the number of cases in which police have determined that drunk cyclists were “also likely to pose a significant danger when driving a car”.

Those who make the irresponsible decision to ride a bicycle while drunk may now pay a high price.

Typically, the suspension of a person’s driver’s licence is imposed by their local safety commission based on the number of penalty points they have occurred for traffic violations while driving a car.

Even prior to last year’s revision, authorities had the power to suspend for up to six months the driver’s licence of any individual seen as likely to pose a significant risk of causing traffic hazards while driving.

This rule was most commonly invoked against drug users.

During the January-September period last year, two people had their driver’s licence suspended for particularly egregious cases of riding bicycles while drunk.

According to a senior NPA official, local public safety commissions began suspending the driver’s licences of drunken cyclists nationwide after the revised law took effect. It established penalties for bicycling while intoxicated at or above a threshold of 0.15 milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath.

At a meeting of regional senior police officials, attendees were asked to consider applying this rule to intoxicated cyclists.

Breaking down the data by the home prefecture of each person whose licence was suspended, Osaka prefecture tops the list with 340, followed by Tokyo with 124, Wakayama with 73 and Nara with 66. There were four in Aichi and 17 in Fukuoka.

There were 22 prefectures which did not record a single driver’s licence suspension, which indicates that police practices vary from prefecture to prefecture.

Some local governments are toughening up penalties for drunk cycling.

The Chiba prefectural government dismisses in disgrace employees who have been caught driving a car or riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol.

Penalties for cycling while intoxicated at or above a threshold of 0.15 mg/l include imprisonment for up to three years or a fine up to 500,000 yen.

A person who rides on the back of a bicycle operated by someone under the influence or serves alcohol to such a bicyclist is also subject to penalties.

As December brings year-end parties that will offer people plenty of opportunities for drinking, police are beefing up enforcement on the street.

“Drunk cycling can lead to serious accidents,” an NPA official said.

“Having your driver’s licence suspended can majorly affect your life and career. I hope everyone will abide by the rule, ‘Don’t drink and ride.’” - the Yomiuri Shimbun

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