Awareness Survey Conducted on the Bicycle Blue Ticket System Enforced on April 1, 2026
Sompo Japan published an awareness survey on the new bicycle 'blue ticket' system starting April 2026, revealing a lack of detailed understanding among the public.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:06 (1h 6m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 09:08 (512h 1m after Collected)
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (President & CEO: Koji Ishikawa; hereinafter "Sompo Japan"), ahead of the start of the bicycle traffic infraction notification system (hereinafter "blue ticket system") in April 2026, conducted an awareness survey regarding the bicycle blue ticket system targeting 947 men and women aged 16 and older nationwide.
### 1. Background of the Survey
The revised Road Traffic Act, which includes the introduction of a system to issue blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations—whereby criminal penalties are waived if a fine is paid within a certain period—will come into effect on April 1, 2026. The background to this is that the proportion of bicycle accidents to total traffic accidents has remained high at around 20% in recent years, making dangerous bicycle riding a social issue.
It has been pointed out that the conventional processing using the "Common Format for Rapid Processing of Road Traffic Law Violation Cases (hereinafter "red ticket")" places a heavier time and procedural burden compared to automobile traffic violations where blue tickets are introduced, leading to insufficient accountability for violators. The new system aims to eliminate this complexity, enable prompt and effective responses, and thereby encourage bicycle users to comply with traffic rules and deter violations.
To permeate this major systemic change throughout society and promote traffic rule compliance among bicycle users, it is essential to accurately grasp the current situation. Therefore, ahead of the new system's launch, we conducted this survey to clarify the degree of awareness and attitudes toward safe bicycle riding, aiming to provide an opportunity for people to think about traffic safety.
### 2. Key Points of the Survey Results
**■ Issues with System Awareness: Only 16.5% Understand the Details**
As the enforcement date approaches, fewer than 20% of people understand the details, such as the specific actions subject to violations. In particular, 21.1% responded that they "did not know at all," including the name of the system, indicating an urgent need for further awareness campaigns.
**■ "Red Tickets" Will Remain Even with Blue Tickets: Misunderstandings About the Severity of Penalties**
The survey revealed that more than half (55.5%) mistakenly believe that "drunk driving," which leads to severe criminal penalties, is subject to a blue ticket. Malicious and dangerous violations, including "drunk driving," will continue to be subject to "red tickets" leading to criminal penalties. It has become clear that correct understanding of which violations apply to the blue ticket system versus the red ticket system is not widespread.
**■ The Most Common Potential Violation is "Failure to Stop"**
With the introduction of the blue ticket system, fines will be imposed on actions that were previously limited to verbal warnings or guidance. The top "violation action I might accidentally commit" acknowledged by bicycle riders was "failure to stop" (39.7%). When the blue ticket system is introduced, failing to stop will result in a 5,000 yen fine.
**■ Over 60% "Support" the Introduction of the System**
With expectations of deterring dangerous driving and reducing accidents, 64.5% of respondents support the introduction of the system, suggesting that many people desire improved safety in bicycle usage.
### 3. Survey Overview
(1) Survey Period: January 23, 2026 – January 30, 2026
(2) Survey Method: Internet survey (anonymous)
(3) Target Areas: All 47 prefectures nationwide
(4) Target Audience: 947 men and women aged 16 and older
### 4. Survey Results
**■ Awareness of the Start of the Blue Ticket System**
For safe driving, it is crucial to firmly understand the new system. In response to the question regarding awareness of the start of the blue ticket system, only 16.5% responded that they "understand the details of the system (target violations, penalties, etc.)," while 21.1% said they "did not know at all," showing that awareness has not sufficiently progressed. Looking at the percentage of those who answered "understand the details" by bicycle usage frequency, "almost every day" was the highest at 27.6%, followed by "2-3 days a week" at 17.1%, and "1 day a week" at 13.4%.
### 1. Background of the Survey
The revised Road Traffic Act, which includes the introduction of a system to issue blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations—whereby criminal penalties are waived if a fine is paid within a certain period—will come into effect on April 1, 2026. The background to this is that the proportion of bicycle accidents to total traffic accidents has remained high at around 20% in recent years, making dangerous bicycle riding a social issue.
It has been pointed out that the conventional processing using the "Common Format for Rapid Processing of Road Traffic Law Violation Cases (hereinafter "red ticket")" places a heavier time and procedural burden compared to automobile traffic violations where blue tickets are introduced, leading to insufficient accountability for violators. The new system aims to eliminate this complexity, enable prompt and effective responses, and thereby encourage bicycle users to comply with traffic rules and deter violations.
To permeate this major systemic change throughout society and promote traffic rule compliance among bicycle users, it is essential to accurately grasp the current situation. Therefore, ahead of the new system's launch, we conducted this survey to clarify the degree of awareness and attitudes toward safe bicycle riding, aiming to provide an opportunity for people to think about traffic safety.
### 2. Key Points of the Survey Results
**■ Issues with System Awareness: Only 16.5% Understand the Details**
As the enforcement date approaches, fewer than 20% of people understand the details, such as the specific actions subject to violations. In particular, 21.1% responded that they "did not know at all," including the name of the system, indicating an urgent need for further awareness campaigns.
**■ "Red Tickets" Will Remain Even with Blue Tickets: Misunderstandings About the Severity of Penalties**
The survey revealed that more than half (55.5%) mistakenly believe that "drunk driving," which leads to severe criminal penalties, is subject to a blue ticket. Malicious and dangerous violations, including "drunk driving," will continue to be subject to "red tickets" leading to criminal penalties. It has become clear that correct understanding of which violations apply to the blue ticket system versus the red ticket system is not widespread.
**■ The Most Common Potential Violation is "Failure to Stop"**
With the introduction of the blue ticket system, fines will be imposed on actions that were previously limited to verbal warnings or guidance. The top "violation action I might accidentally commit" acknowledged by bicycle riders was "failure to stop" (39.7%). When the blue ticket system is introduced, failing to stop will result in a 5,000 yen fine.
**■ Over 60% "Support" the Introduction of the System**
With expectations of deterring dangerous driving and reducing accidents, 64.5% of respondents support the introduction of the system, suggesting that many people desire improved safety in bicycle usage.
### 3. Survey Overview
(1) Survey Period: January 23, 2026 – January 30, 2026
(2) Survey Method: Internet survey (anonymous)
(3) Target Areas: All 47 prefectures nationwide
(4) Target Audience: 947 men and women aged 16 and older
### 4. Survey Results
**■ Awareness of the Start of the Blue Ticket System**
For safe driving, it is crucial to firmly understand the new system. In response to the question regarding awareness of the start of the blue ticket system, only 16.5% responded that they "understand the details of the system (target violations, penalties, etc.)," while 21.1% said they "did not know at all," showing that awareness has not sufficiently progressed. Looking at the percentage of those who answered "understand the details" by bicycle usage frequency, "almost every day" was the highest at 27.6%, followed by "2-3 days a week" at 17.1%, and "1 day a week" at 13.4%.