Japan to allow unlicensed electric scooter riding from July

Japan's electric scooter users will no longer require a driver's license from July, though minors under 16 will be banned from riding them, the National Police Agency said Thursday. The new rules apply to scooters with a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour, and riders must comply with the same traffic rules as bicycles, including not riding on sidewalks. Accidents and traffic rule violations, such as riding under the influence of alcohol, have been rising in line with their growth in popularity. Electric scooters that come under the new rules must measure 190 centimeters or less in length and 60 cm or less in width. Other electric scooters that do not meet the standards are treated as moped, which require riders to have a license and wear a helmet.