MenkyoDojo

Moving at a speed from which the vehicle can stop immediately.

決め手 Roughly 10 km/h or less — able to stop within about 1 metre. You do not actually stop.

試験での狙われ方 A classic trick is a question that says "joko" but then describes a full stop. Equally, a flashing red described as "joko" is wrong — that one is a full stop.

Stopping until the wheels are completely still, then checking it is safe before going.

決め手 Just before the stop line if there is one, otherwise just before the intersection. Rolling slowly while you look is not a stop.

Changing your course to get in front of the vehicle ahead.

決め手 The dividing line is whether you change course. Japan drives on the left, so you overtake on the right.

Getting in front of the vehicle ahead without changing your course.

決め手 Within 30 m before a crosswalk, BOTH are banned. The ordinary "no overtaking" places ban only overtaking.

試験での狙われ方 If you only remember "no overtaking before a crosswalk" you will lose the question about oinuki. Both are banned there.

The driver has left and cannot drive off at once, or loading/unloading for more than 5 minutes.

決め手 Loading goods for over 5 minutes is parking. Letting people in or out is stopping, however long it takes.

A short stop that does not amount to parking.

決め手 You may still stop in a "no parking" place. In a "no stopping or parking" place you may do neither.

Places where you may neither park nor stop.

決め手 5 m = intersections, corners, crosswalks and cycle crossings (both sides). 10 m = railway crossings, the left of a safety island, bus stops (both sides). Also tram tracks, the crest of a hill, steep slopes and tunnels.

試験での狙われ方 "3 m from an intersection is fine" is wrong. The 3 m figure belongs to garage entrances, which is a no-PARKING rule. Here it is 5 m.

Places where you may not park, but may stop.

決め手 1 m = fire alarms. 3 m = vehicle entrances to car parks and garages. 5 m = the edge of roadworks, fire equipment stores, fire hydrants. Parking also needs 3.5 m of clear road to the right of the car.

Pedestrians and vehicles alike may proceed, taking care for other traffic.

決め手 There is no duty to stop — not even a duty to slow to joko. It simply lets you proceed with care.

Vehicles must come to a complete stop at the stop position, then go when it is safe.

決め手 Treated the same as a stop sign. Slowing down is not enough. Pedestrians may proceed with care.

Pulling in as close as possible to the left edge of the road before turning left.

決め手 The point is to stop bikes slipping up your inside. Leave a gap and a bicycle or moped fills it, and you catch it as you turn. On the practical test, within about 1 m is the mark.

試験での狙われ方 The same word also names a banned act: squeezing another vehicle or cyclist toward the edge while driving. That is not the same as pulling in to turn — read which one the question means.

When you must signal is fixed by law, and differs by manoeuvre.

決め手 Turns and U-turns: 30 m before. Lane or course changes: 3 seconds before. Slowing, stopping, reversing: as you begin.

試験での狙われ方 Swapping 30 m (a distance) with 3 seconds (a time) is the standard trap. Turning is measured in distance, changing course in time.

Reaction distance plus braking distance — from spotting the hazard to a full stop.

決め手 Reaction distance = from noticing the hazard until the brakes bite. Braking distance = from the brakes biting until you stop. Fatigue and drowsiness lengthen the reaction part.

試験での狙われ方 A question defining braking distance as "the distance until you stop" is wrong — that is stopping distance. Braking distance grows with the square of speed: double the speed, roughly four times the distance.

An island or marked area protecting people boarding trams and pedestrians crossing.

決め手 Vehicles may never enter, even when it is empty. Slow to joko when someone is on it. No stopping or parking on its left side or within 10 m either side.

The pedestrian strip marked off by a white line on roads with no pavement.

決め手 Where the strip is wider than 0.75 m, stop leaving at least 0.75 m of it clear. Where it is 0.75 m or less, do not enter it — stop along the left edge of the carriageway.

At an intersection with no signals or stop signs and roads of about equal width, the vehicle coming from the left has priority.

決め手 The LEFT, not the right. This is the single biggest slip for drivers from right-hand-traffic countries. If the widths differ, the wider road has priority instead.

The way a moped turns right: go straight across first, then turn and wait for the next green.

決め手 Applies at signalled intersections on roads with three or more marked lanes (and wherever the two-stage sign is posted). Where the "no two-stage right turn" sign is posted, turn normally.

A road designated by sign, or one whose centre line or lane markings continue through the intersection.

決め手 If the line runs unbroken through the intersection, that road is the priority road. You must not obstruct traffic on it, and you slow to joko yourself.