Go-kart companies asked by police to improve riders’ safety

By on May 22, 2017

Out of twelve go-kart accidents reported in the city which Japan’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has been tracking since March, ten of them involved foreign tourists.

Zooming away in a go-kart  has become a popular way of touring the city with friends.

“The go-kart  I rented can go as fast as 60 kph and when you’re on the road, it feels like running at twice that speed,” says Jeff, a Tokyo expat.

“For me, go-karting with my friends is exciting. We feel like real racers.”

But for MPD, accidents are troubling signs for public safety.  To keep go-karters out of harm’s way, it has asked go-kart rental companies today to provide safety measures like the use of helmets and protective gears, banning of smartphone use while driving, explaining traffic rules, toning down excessive noise and others.  Go-kart rental companies were also asked to reserve parking along touring routes but the use of seat belts is not mandatory.

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