Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 566 | Classification | NPA-16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | February 12, 1998 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Cabinet Office (Economic Planning Agency) |
| Responsible Ministries | National Police Agency | Related Laws | Road Traffic Law, Enforcement Order of the Road Traffic Law |
| Complainant | Domestic association | Exporting Countries | |
| Subject | Deregulation concerning motorcycles | ||
| Description of Complaint |
For the following two points regarding deregulation of motorcycles, which were also mentioned in the deliberation results in the Report of the Market Access Ombudsman Council of the OTO issued in May 1994, improvement measures should be taken at an early date. (1) Elimination of restrictions on tandem riding of motorcycles on expressways The agency, after studying data submitted by the complainant regarding the safety of tandem riding, should review regulations if there are no problems in terms of safety. (2) Elimination of disparity in maximum speed limits between automobiles and motorcycles on expressways The agency must show the complainant data that form the rationale for this restriction. If the agency is unable to do so, it should consider the review of this restriction. |
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| Details of Measures |
1. Measures regarding requested elimination of restrictions on tandem riding of motorcycles on expressways In consideration of the fact that it is difficult to lift restrictions on tandem riding as it is due to a deep-seated recognition among citizens that the running of motorcycles is not safe, the Market Access Ombudsman Council made the OTO decision on March 21, 2000 as follows: (1) In order to improve the driving manner of motorcycles and establish the safe driving of motorcycles, public relations and education activities shall be promoted, and education to drivers, such as tandem riding education shall be expanded, as well as a crackdown against dangerous driving shall be strengthened; (2) Broad surveys shall be conducted on usage styles, the people's perception on use and licensing system regarding motorcycles, including overseas trends to results by the end of 2000. Based on the decision, the agency has conducted (1) promotion of public relations and education activities, including driving manner improvement campaigns, (2) expansion of motorcycle-driving education such as the promotion of expansion of safe tandem riding education and (3) step-up of controls on vicious, dangerous and annoying traffic rule violations as well as intensified crackdown on motorcycle gangs who conduct dangerous driving. The Secretariat of the OTO has conducted a motorcycle survey on five points - 1) the number of motorcycles held and driver's license holders, 2) usage styles, 3) licensing systems, 4) safety measures, and 5) people's perception on the use of motorcycles - in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Australia, using literature and the Internet. 2. Measures regarding requested elimination of disparity in maximum speed limits between automobiles and motorcycles on expressways A cabinet ordinance (Ordinance No. 393, 2000), which revises part of the Enforcement Order of the Road Traffic Law to raise the ordinance-provided maximum speed limit for mini-vehicles and motorcycles when using main road of expressways from 80 km/h to 100 km/h, was established and put in force on October 1, 2000. |
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| Classification of Processing | (1) D (2) A |
Directions | III |
| Remarks |
A written reply was made on February 19, 1998. An additional written reply was made on May 7, 1998. An additional written reply was made on July 14, 1998. An additional written reply was made on October 19, 1998. An additional written reply was made on July 1, 1999. Reference materials were sent on March 23, 2000. Reference materials were sent on February 5, 2001 |
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