Japan Considers Level 4 Automated Mobility Service In Restricted Areas

Illustration of an autonomous vehicle. (Wikimedia Commons/ブルーノ)

JAKARTA - Japanese authorities are considering a system to screen and approve fully automated mobility service providers in restricted areas, under the supervision of the prefectural public safety commission, the police agency said Thursday.

The National Police Agency aims to submit amendments to the road traffic law to parliament next spring, as the government intends to start 'Level 4' automated mobility services in designated areas of the country, such as abandoned railroads, by 2020. fiscal through March 2023, according to the agency.

Quoting Kyodo News December 24, at Level 4, the vehicle performs the functions of acceleration, steering and braking, including in an emergency, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

A government panel, which has been discussing new autonomous driving and mobility services such as electric scooters, on Thursday released its final report, which will form the basis for a police agency amendment law.

According to the agency, the amendment would stipulate that fully automated driving will only be permitted by vehicles operated in designated areas, for the purpose of providing mobility services to passengers, not private cars.

Illustration of an autonomous vehicle. (Wikimedia Commons/Gnangarra)

In such a service, the vehicle will be operated autonomously under driverless remote monitoring. It has to follow traffic rules and needs to secure safety measures like stopping when its system fails.

Service providers will be required to submit their operational plans to their respective prefectural public safety commissions, according to the agency.

In the event of a traffic violation or incident that does not conform to the proposed plan, the public safety commission may suspend or revoke the permit, as well as issue the necessary orders.

The draft law is also expected to include regulations on electric scooters, which stipulate that riders must be at least 16 years old but that a driver's license is not required. It is also likely to encourage electric scooter and bicycle users to wear helmets.

Vehicles will be categorized based on their size and speed. Electric scooters will be among small, low-speed vehicles, which are defined as a size similar to a bicycle with a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

Illustration of an autonomous vehicle. (Wikimedia Commons/Gnangarra)

If the drivers of such vehicles can demonstrate that they control them below 6 kph, they will be allowed to walk on the sidewalk. Breakers of the rules will be presented with traffic tickets and repeat offenders will be required to take traffic safety classes.

Operators of electric scooter sharing services will be encouraged to provide safety education for riders as well, according to the agency.

Meanwhile, sidewalk vehicles, including automated delivery robots, will be defined as vehicles similar in size to an electric wheelchair and with a maximum speed of 6 kilometers per hour.

Remotely controlled robot operators will be required to register their username and operating location.