The National Police Agency reported Thursday that the nationwide usage rate for bicycle helmets has increased to 21.2%, up 4.2 percentage points from last year.
Following a revision of the Road Traffic Act in 2023, wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is now a “duty of effort,” with the agency continuing to encourage use of helmets due to their effectiveness in minimizing injuries from accidents.
The agency in June conducted a survey on helmet use among some 53,400 cyclists at train stations and commercial facilities with bicycle parking spaces nationwide.
It found the highest rate of helmet use in Ehime Prefecture, at 70.3%, followed by Oita Prefecture, at 53.7%.
Meanwhile, the lowest usage rate was recorded in Osaka Prefecture, at 7.2%. However, the prefecture still saw an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared with the previous year, reflecting an overall rise in helmet use across the nation.
According to NPA data, over half of deaths in accidents involving bicycles between 2020 and 2024 were the result of head injuries. The agency also notes that cyclists who do not wear helmets are 1.7 times more likely to sustain head injuries in an accident compared to those who do.
With the latest revision of the traffic law, cyclists will come under stricter regulations. Starting next April, those over the age of 16 could face a fine of ¥12,000 ($81) if caught using a mobile phone while riding a bicycle.
Other violations, such as using headphones, holding an umbrella, or riding without a headlight on at night, will be subject to fines amounting to ¥5,000.
Accidents involving bicycles have been on the decline in recent years as stricter regulations have been introduced. Last year, a total of 67,531 bicycle accidents were reported, marking a decrease of 4,808 cases compared with the previous year.
This marks a significant decline compared with 2014, when there were 109,269 reported bicycle accidents.
