New Rules: 60% of Drivers Anxious About Compliance; Only 20% Understand the Content, Highlighting Delays in Public Awareness

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. (President: Shinichiro Funabiki), a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, conducted an 'Awareness Survey on the Revised Road Traffic Act' targeting individuals in their 20s to 60s across the top 10 prefectures with the highest bicycle accident rates. With the number of bicycle traffic violations rising sharply, the revised Road Traffic Act, effective April 1, 2026, introduces a 'blue ticket' system for bicycle violations and new rules for automobile drivers when overtaking bicycles. The survey results reveal that while the legal revision is somewhat recognized, understanding of the specific content remains low, highlighting a delay in public awareness necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the system.