As drunk driving on electric kick scooters surges in Japan, police have started sharing violation data with major provider Luup, Inc., though effectiveness is unclear. In the first half of 2025, 17.8% of accidents involved alcohol, 22 times the rate for bicycles. Operators face calls for stricter measures like nighttime bans, but responses remain limited.
The revised Road Traffic Law in July 2023 allowed anyone aged 16 or older to operate electric kick scooters without a license, sparking rapid growth in usage. By June 2025, the two major sharing services had about 28,000 vehicles, a 3.6-fold increase from 2023, with Luup's app downloaded over 5 million times. However, the National Police Agency reports 586 injury or fatality accidents and around 65,000 violations from the law's implementation to June 2025.
Drunk driving stands out as a key concern: of 163 e-scooter accidents in January to June 2025, 29—or 17.8%—involved alcohol, 22 times the 0.8% rate for bicycles. Most incidents involved shared scooters. In November 2025, Luup updated its terms to receive police data on violations and suspend intoxicated users. Since December 9, 2025, it has trialed breathalyzer checks by security staff at Shibuya Ward rental stations.
In July 2025, the NPA urged the Japan Micromobility Association to halt nighttime services, as 60% of alcohol-related accidents occurred between midnight and 5 a.m., driven by post-last-train demand. While some operators have curbed late-night rentals, adoption is limited. The association notes it "seems potentially effective to some extent" but poses challenges for late-night workers, promising multifaceted exploration.
In Shinjuku Ward's Kabukicho entertainment district one November morning, a 23-year-old male university student said, "Many friends of mine drive it after drinking." A 22-year-old female freelancer added, "I’ve driven under the influence of alcohol before, but now I won’t... It would be tough if I could no longer use it late at night."
Operators have added drunk-driving warnings and extra security in entertainment areas during peak drinking seasons, but issues persist. A senior police official stated, "We will vigorously enforce regulations and persistently continue to educate users. We will also pay close attention to how the service operators respond."
A Japan Automobile Federation experiment showed non-helmet wearers suffer 6.3 times more head injuries in 20 km/h curb collisions. J.F. Oberlin University's Professor Hajime Tozaki warned, "As many people ride e-scooters without wearing a helmet, accidents have the potential to cause serious consequences. The prevalence of drunk riding cannot be left unchecked... if service operators fail to take any effective countermeasures on their own, new regulations should be considered."
