Japanese authorities are clamping down on the use of electric rideable suitcases after a surge in incidents from foreign visitors using them illegally on the roads.
A Chinese woman became the first to be prosecuted for using the luggage illegally after she was spotted riding a three-wheeled suitcase on the pavements of Osaka.
The battery-powered suitcases look like normal baggage but have handlebars that extend outwards, allowing travellers to ride their luggage.
They have been popularised by music stars, leading to rapid rise in use across some Asian countries.
Earlier this month, a boy from Indonesia was stopped for weaving his way through pedestrians in the city’s Dotonbori district, one of the busiest shopping areas in Japan.
The rise in reported incidents has caused authorities to consider re-evaluating existing regulations as more foreign visitors descend on the country amid a tourism boom.
Electronic suitcases can reach up to 8mph with reports that passengers under 260 lbs travelling for six miles on fully charged batteries.
Under current regulations, the luggage is classified as a motorised vehicle and must be ridden with the correct safety equipment and driver’s licence.
Originally created in China, electric suitcases have become increasingly popular across Asia. K-pop stars, such as the members of Blackpink, are often filmed riding their electric suitcases across stages and airports much to the amusement and excitement from fans.
But the rise in popularity has caused issues for passengers trying to make their way safely to their terminal as the suitcases currently fit hand luggage criteria.
Narita airport, which serves the greater Tokyo area, advised passengers to be “careful of your surroundings” after complaints of passengers whizzing past other travellers and causing disruption.
Tokyo’s Haneda airport banned the use of the suitcases in terminals in February to avoid collisions with other travellers.
Singapore has now introduced strict rules in its airports for users and Shanghai’s Changi airport has banned them completely.
Outside airport regulations, many are calling for government legislation to catch up to the surge of mobility devices.
With the advancement of motor and battery technologies, electronic suitcases are just one of many new inventions to fall through the gap – technically classed as a vehicle but unable to legally drive on roads for lack of rear view mirror and turn signals.
Takeru Shibayama, a senior scientist at the Vienna University of Technology’s institute for transportation, told Kyodo News that the range of vehicles now falling under the category of motorised vehicle, Japan needed to discuss “whether a new classification should be established” to deal with the electric suitcase.
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