Worse than scooters: a driver's license is required to ride electric suitcases (3 photos + 1 video)

In recent years, motorized suitcases, which resemble scooters but run on lithium-ion batteries, have become more common among travelers around the world.





Japanese law requires passengers on motorized suitcases, which are popular in parts of Asia, to have safety equipment and a driver's license.

According to Kyodo News, two major Japanese airports have already asked travelers not to ride motorized suitcases on their premises, and police are urging domestic retailers to warn shoppers of strict laws regarding their use.

Motorized suitcases, similar to scooters but powered by lithium-ion batteries, have become more common among travelers in recent years. They have also caught the fancy of celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Shilpa Shetty.

According to Kyodo, Japan now classifies electric suitcases, popular in other Asian countries, as motorized vehicles that can only be used on roads with the necessary safety equipment and a driver's license.



The publication notes that in June, a 30-year-old Chinese woman studying in Japan was handed over to prosecutors for driving without a license after she allegedly rode a three-wheeled suitcase on a sidewalk in Osaka on March 31. According to Japanese traffic regulations, the woman's suitcase, which can reach speeds of up to 13 km per hour, is classified as a "motorized bicycle," like some mopeds.

In June, police again addressed the public with an explanation that licenses are required to transport such mobile luggage.

Japan has recently been struggling to cope with new forms of transport. Traffic violations involving electric scooters have quadrupled in the six months since restrictions were lifted in July 2023, according to the National Police Agency. The relaxed rules allow people over 16 to ride them without a license, and they are now common in major cities like Tokyo.