Today's Close-Up

E-scooter Accidents on the Rise: How to Balance Safety and Convenience? (2025x13)

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As the popularity of e-scooters booms in Japan, so too have accidents, confusion over usage rules and public concern. A 2023 revision of the traffic laws aimed to strike a balance between safety and convenience, but the lack of understanding remains a problem. With examples from Belgium and elsewhere, we explore whether better education, regulation and urban planning can help Japan steer toward a safer e-mobility future. Guest: Suzuki Mio (Associate Professor, Tokai University)