The Japan Safe Driving Center on Tuesday held the first meeting of a panel of experts to discuss whether to ease restrictions on the age and size of children allowed to ride in child seats on bicycles.

The panel will conduct experiments to examine how a child’s weight affects bicycle handling and safety, and plans to compile a report by the end of March next year.

The center, which operates under the National Public Safety Commission, issues traffic accident certificates and conducts research on road safety.

Based on the panel’s findings, the National Police Agency (NPA) will consider revising the current rules, which generally allow children to ride in bicycle child seats only before they enter elementary school.

The agency plans to establish revised requirements and notify prefectural police departments.

The panel includes university professors specializing in traffic engineering and data analysis, as well as representatives of the Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute, which conducts performance testing…