Why is Japan cracking down on carryable motorized suitcases? | Explanatory news

EXPLAINER

An increasing number of airports are imposing restrictions on these electric suitcases for security reasons.

Transportable motorized suitcases, which emerged almost 10 years ago as something futuristically new and functional, have become increasingly popular among travelers.

But the carry-on suitcase craze is being rejected at some Japanese airports for security reasons and due to the fact that some foreign visitors use them illegally on public roads.

So what do we know about transportable suitcases and why are there increasing restrictions on their use?

What is a travel bag and what is the size of the global travel bag market?

The suitcases that can be carried are like electric scooters and, in many cases, are powered by lithium-ion batteries that help with crossing short distances, especially in airports and supermarkets.

Many of these transportable suitcases can reach top speeds of 13 kilometers per hour (8 miles per hour). This is the equivalent of the average running speed of a very fit runner.

The first suitcase was produced by a company called Modobag in 2016.

The global carry-on luggage market was valued at US$182 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$304 million by 2031, according to Applied Market Research, a market research firm.

Why is Japan cracking down on carry-on luggage?

This is mainly due to the rise in popularity of transportable bags, and with this growth comes challenges about where and how these bags can be used.

Tokyo’s Haneda airport banned the use of carry-on suitcases in terminals in February to avoid collisions with other passengers, according to Kyodo News agency. Narita International Airport, the second largest in the Japanese capital, issued a statement asking passengers in its terminals to monitor their surroundings due to the increased use of transportable luggage. This warning was due to complaints about these bags causing disruption.

Transportable bags appear to have become a public safety issue beyond airports. Japan has enacted laws that require motorized luggage passengers to have a driver’s license to travel outside of airports, in accordance with the Road Traffic Law.

In June, a Chinese woman became the first person to be fined for carrying a suitcase on an Osaka sidewalk without a license. The woman, a student in Japan, was seen by police riding a three-wheeled electric suitcase on a sidewalk in March.

This month, an Indonesian boy was stopped by authorities for carrying a suitcase in Osaka’s busy Dotonbori shopping area, according to Kyodo News. His family didn’t know that a driver’s license was required.

Japanese traffic laws classify these bags as “motorized bicycles,” which includes minimotorcycles powered by engines of 50 cc or less. By law, they must be registered and equipped with a rear-view mirror and turn signals. Additionally, drivers are required to wear a helmet and have third-party liability insurance.

Even electric scooters posed a challenge for Japan.

After restrictions were eased in July 2023, traffic violations quadrupled in six months, according to the National Police Agency.

What are other airports doing about carry-on bags?

Restrictions vary by airport and country. At most United States airports, carry-on bags that comply with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules are permitted in terminals with some restrictions for certain airlines.

Since 2013, the FAA has prohibited the storage of extra lithium batteries in an aircraft’s cargo unit. If passengers want to check carryable bags, they must first remove the lithium batteries and charge them on the plane.

Singapore Changi Airport has banned luggage altogether.

At Canadian airports, small vehicles powered by lithium batteries are not permitted in checked baggage or carry-on luggage due to safety concerns related to lithium batteries.

How transportable bags are regulated depends on several factors. The fact that they are classified as public motor vehicles often affects users’ need for a license. Other restrictions include how quickly you can use a carry-on bag indoors or outdoors and whether you need to wear a helmet.

What else have airports regulated in the past?

Although it has been almost 25 years since smoking was banned on planes, indoor smoking is still permitted in airports with designated smoking areas and lounges.

One important restriction is the net carry-on baggage limit implemented in 2006, after London’s Metropolitan Police uncovered a plot to use liquid explosives to blow up a plane on a transatlantic flight.