From 1st April 2026, cyclists who break traffic rules can be given a fixed penalty notice — just like drivers of motor vehicles.
2026年4月1日から、自転車の違反にも
「青切符」制度が導入されます。
From 1st April 2026, cyclists who commit traffic offences can be issued a "Blue Ticket" — a fixed penalty notice — for the very first time.
2026年4月1日から、自転車の交通違反に「青切符」制度が導入されます。これまでは自転車には適用されていませんでした。
Cyclists aged 16 and over who commit certain traffic offences will be issued a Blue Ticket and required to pay a fixed penalty. Fail to pay, and the matter moves to criminal proceedings.
16歳以上の方が自転車で一定の交通違反をすると、青切符が交付され反則金の支払いが必要になります。支払わない場合は刑事手続きになります。
Covers most offences. Pay the fine and the matter is closed — no criminal record.
ほとんどの違反に適用。支払えば終了。前科なし。
Still used for serious offences. Results in a full criminal investigation.
重大な違反に適用。刑事手続きになる。
Issued at the scene for minor offences. No fine involved.
軽微な違反に現場で警告。反則金なし。
The Blue Ticket does not apply. A warning or guidance card is issued instead.
青切符の対象外。警告または自転車安全指導カード。
Japan's cycling accident figures make for sobering reading — and the old system simply wasn't doing enough to hold offenders to account.
自転車事故の状況が深刻で、これまでの制度では対応が不十分でした。
The process is far simpler than it used to be. Here's how it works.
手続きはこれまでよりずっとシンプルです。順番に見てみましょう。
The officer hands you a Blue Ticket setting out the offence, along with a Payment Notice to take to a bank or post office. It's quick and straightforward — none of the lengthy paperwork that used to be involved.
警察官から「青切符（交通反則告知書）」と「納付書」が交付されます。これまでの手続きより迅速です。
If you accept that you committed the offence, take your Payment Notice to any bank or post office within 7 days. Once paid: no interview, no court appearance, no criminal record.
違反を認める場合、納付書を持って銀行か郵便局へ。支払えば取調べなし・裁判なし・前科なし！
Turn up on the date shown on your Blue Ticket — or, if you're based far away, the paperwork will be posted out to you. Pay within 10 days and the outcome is exactly the same as step ②.
青切符に記載の期日に出頭、または遠方の場合は郵送で通知書を受け取る。10日以内に支払えば②と同じ結果。
If you still haven't paid, the matter is referred to criminal proceedings — meaning an interview, a possible trial, and the risk of a criminal record.
反則金を納付しないと刑事手続きになり、取調べ・裁判・前科のリスクが生じます。
These are the most fundamental cycling rules in Japan, formally adopted by the Traffic Safety Headquarters on 1st November 2022.
自転車利用者が守るべき最も基本的なルールです（令和4年11月1日 交通対策本部決定）。
The basic approach to enforcement stays the same — what changes is what happens after you've been stopped.
取り締まりの基本的な考え方は変わりません。変わるのは「検挙後の手続き」です。
Below are the main fixed penalties. The steepest fine for cyclists — ¥12,000 — is for using a mobile phone while riding.
主な反則金の金額です。自転車で最も高額なのはスマートフォンの「ながら運転（保持）」の12,000円です。
| Offence違反行為 | Fixed Penalty反則金 |
|---|---|
| 📱 Using a mobile phone while riding — holding it (calls or looking at the screen)📱 携帯電話使用等（保持）—通話・画面注視 | ¥12,000 |
| 🚂 Entering a level crossing as the barriers are coming down🚂 遮断踏切立入り | ¥7,000 |
| 🚦 Running a red light🚦 信号無視 | ¥6,000 |
| ↔️ Riding on the wrong side of the road or in the wrong lane↔️ 通行区分違反（逆走など） | ¥6,000 |
| 🚶 Failing to give way to pedestrians at a crossing🚶 横断歩行者等妨害等 | ¥6,000 |
| 🚲 Failing to ride safely — hands-free, wheelies, and the like🚲 安全運転義務違反（片手・ウイリーなど） | ¥6,000 |
| 🌙 Riding without lights after dark🌙 無灯火（夜間） | ¥5,000 |
| 🛑 Failing to stop at a give-way sign🛑 指定場所一時不停止等 | ¥5,000 |
| 🔧 Faulty or missing brakes🔧 自転車制動装置不良 | ¥5,000 |
| ☂️ Riding with an umbrella, or with earphones that block out surrounding sounds☂️ 傘差し運転・イヤホン使用（公安委員会遵守事項違反） | ¥5,000 |
| 🚷 Failing to slow down when riding on the pavement🚷 歩道徐行等義務違反 | ¥3,000 |
| 👥 Riding two abreast👥 並進禁止違反 | ¥3,000 |
| 👫 Carrying a passenger on your bike👫 二人乗り（軽車両乗車積載制限違反） | ¥3,000 |
| ↩️ Turning incorrectly at a junction↩️ 交差点右左折方法違反 | ¥3,000 |
| 🚲 Failing to use a cycle track where one is provided🚲 自転車道通行義務違反 | ¥3,000 |
On top of the Blue Ticket process, repeat offenders or those involved in serious violations may face additional consequences.
青切符の手続きとは別に、繰り返し違反した場合や重大な違反をした場合にはさらなる処分があります。
If you're caught committing any of 16 specified offences on two or more occasions within three years (and you're aged 14 or over), the Prefectural Public Safety Commission can order you to attend a three-hour safety course. There's a fee to pay.
14歳以上の方が、特定の16種類の違反を3年以内に2回以上繰り返すと、公安委員会から3時間の講習受講が命じられます（受講料あり）。
⚠️ Fail to attend within 3 months and you could face a fine of up to ¥50,000.
⚠️ 3か月以内に受講しないと5万円以下の罰金
If you hold a driving licence and cause a serious accident whilst cycling — such as a hit-and-run or a fatal collision — or commit a particularly grave offence (for example, cycling under the influence of alcohol), your driving licence could be suspended for up to six months.
運転免許保有者が自転車でひき逃げや死亡事故、酒酔い運転など特に重大な違反をした場合、6か月以内で運転免許が停止されることがあります。
⚠️ No penalty points are added to your licence — but suspension is still very much on the table.
⚠️ 点数付加はなし。ただし停止処分はあり得る