● Stage 2 ●Lesson 1 Anticipating Danger
1 Importance of Anticipating Danger ........... 148
2 Types of Driving Dangers .......................... 149
3 Anticipating possible dangers ................... 150
4 Driving Behavior that Reduces Danger ..... 150
For Lessons 2 and 3, the Okyu Kyugo Shochi(first-aid treatment) textbook will be used.
Lesson 4 Blind Spots and Driving
1 Views From Two-wheeled Vehicles and from
Four-wheeled Vehicles ............................... 154
2 Examples of Blind Spots ............................ 156
3 Defensive Driving ....................................... 159
4 Methods of Communication Between Vehicles 160Lesson 5 Behavioral Analysis Based onAptitude Test Results
1 Driving and Personality .............................. 164
2 Driving Aptitude Test.................................. 165
3 How the Results of Aptitude
Tests are Used ............................................ 166
Lesson 6 Human Capabilities and Driving
1 Recognition, Judgment and Operation ..... 174
2 Factors Affecting Recognition,Judgment and Operation........................... 179
Lesson 7 How Physical Forces Influence theVehicle and One's Driving
1 Inertia and Frictional Force ........................ 184
2 Loading and Stability ................................. 188
3 Driving Around Curves and on Slopes ...... 1894 The Characteristics of Motorcycles and theCorrect Posture and Riding Technique...... 194
5 Speed and the Force of Impact ................. 202
6 Preventing Traffic Pollution and GlobalWarming..................................................... 203
Lesson 8 Driving Under Adverse Conditions
1 Driving at Night .......................................... 206
2 Cases Where Lights are Required ............. 210
3 Vehicle Lighting. ........................................ 212
4 Driving in the Rain...................................... 213
5 Driving in the Fog,etc. ............................... 216
6 Adverse Road Conditions .......................... 217
7 Emergency Situations ................................ 221
8 In the Event of Earthquakes....................... 226
Lesson 9 Characteristics of the Accident, theRealities and Tragedy
1 Characteristic Reality of Accidents............ 232
2 Exposure and Injury in Two-wheeled
Vehicles...................................................... 240
3 Tragedy of Traffic Accidents. ..................... 241

4 Respect for Human Life ............................. 245
5 Importance of Seatbelts ............................ 247
Lesson 10 Maintaining Your Automobile
1 Maintenance and Upkeep ......................... 252
2 Inspection and Use of Tools and OtherItems Carried On Board............................. 256
3 Changing a Wheel and Fitting Tire Chains .. 258
4 Daily Maintenance Checks ........................ 262
Lesson 11 Parking and Stopping
1 Defining “Park” and “Stop” ........................ 270
2 Prohibitions on Parking and Stopping
and the Exceptions .................................... 271
3 How to Park and Stop ................................ 275
4 Limitations on Parking Time and Resultsof Parking Violations .................................. 277
5 Measures to Take When Leaving Your
Vehicle ....................................................... 279
6 Obtaining a Parking Place ......................... 280
7 Effects of Parking on Others ...................... 281
Lesson 12 Carrying Passengers and Cargo
1 How to Carry Passengers and Cargo ........ 284
2 Special Cases Regarding Carrying
Passengers and Cargo .............................. 284
3 Restrictions on Passengers and Vehicle
Loading ...................................................... 285
4 Preventing Passengers and Cargo from
Falling ........................................................ 287
5 Carrying Dangerous Substances .............. 288
Lesson 13 Towing
1 How to Tow a Broken-down Vehicle........... 290
2 Restrictions on Towing ............................... 291
Lesson 14 Involvement in a Traffic Accident
1 The Duty of Drivers .................................... 294
2 When You Are the Victim............................ 295
3 When Present At the Scene of anAccident..................................................... 295
Lesson 15 Automobile Owner Preparedness
and the Insurance System
1 Registering an Automobile (Notification)and Inspection ........................................... 298
2 The Need to Have Insurance Coverage .... 302
3 Types of Auto Insurance and How TheyWork ........................................................... 302
Lesson 16 Planning Your Route1 Reading Maps ........................................... 308
2 Hints on Planning Your Route .................... 309
3 Making Use of Guidance Signs andSimilar. ....................................................... 309

3●

RT Law 87
Enforcement
Ordinance 32-6

＊1

A Learner’s Permit isrequired when trying toobtain a second-classdriver’s license, in thefollowing circumstances:
1 When a person with aquasi-medium vehicle
licence, or first-class regular motor vehicle license
is attempting to obtain asecond-class large vehicle license or secondclass medium licence.
2 When a person witha first-class medium
vehicle license isattempting to obtaina second-class large
vehicle license.
3 When a person with a
special heavy equipment license is attempting to obtain asecond-class large
vehicle license, secondclass medium vehicle
license, or second-class
regular license.

Quick Hint
Never drive alone...
Even with a learn­
er’s permit, it is ex­tremely dangerous todrive without a per­son in the car who isqualified to drive thecar. You should neverdo this.
Driving alone is a
“Driving illegally witha learner’s permit” forwhich your learner’s
p e r m i t w i l l b e re ­voked.

RT Law 94 I, II

6 Driving on a Learner’s Permit(1) When a Learner’s Permit is Required
In the following circumstances, those who wish to obtain a first-class driver’s
license must obtain a license appropriate for the kind of automobile being driven1:
1 When a person is learning to drive a large vehicle, a medium vehicle, aquasi-medium vehicle, or a regular motor vehicle on a road2 When a person is driving a large vehicle, a medium vehicle, a quasi-medium vehicle, or a regular motorvehicle on a road in order to take a licensing test or a graduation test at a designated driving school.

(2) Term of Validity for a Learner’s Permit
The term of validity for a learner’s permit is six months from the date thelicense test was taken.

(3) Learning to Drive on a Learner’s Permit
When a person with a learner’s permit drives a large vehicle, a mediumvehicle, a quasi-medium vehicle, or regular motor vehicle for the purpose oflearning, he or she must have one of the following people sitting next tohim or her in the front seat and must drive under this person’s instruction.
1 A driving instructor of a designated driving school (only when actually driving for practice)
2 A person who has held a first-class license for driving the vehicle for 3 years
or more3 A person who holds a second-class license for driving the vehicle(4) Displaying a “Learner Driver” Sign
When a vehicle is being driven on a learner’s permit for the purpose ofdriving for practice, a “learner driver” sign must be displayed in the designated positions at the front and rear of the vehicle.
30 30
cmcm以上or more

仮免許

仮免許

練習中練習中17cm or
17cm
more
以上
仮免許

練習中

Learner Driver
Learning to Drive
Affixed between 0.4 meters and 1.2 metersfrom the ground in a clearly visible spot.

2Renewing a Driver’s License, etc.

1 Submitting Notification of Changes to Information Listed on Driver’s License

1 When one’s personal information changes due to a change of address, marriage, or other reason, it is important to report the change as early as possible to one’s local public safety commission.
2 If one’s driver’s license is lost, stolen, damaged or going to be renewed for
personal informations change, it is possible to apply to one’s local public
safety commission for the license to be reissued.
●128

2 When an Infraction is Committed

RT Law 126, 129

A driver who has committed an infraction is given a traffic violation notice(blue ticket) and payment slip by the policeman or traffic warden.
If there is no objection to the content of the notice, the person has eight days
including the day of the incident to pay the specified amount of the fine listedon the notice and payment slip at a bank or post office or into the penalty pay­ment account at the prefectural police headquarters, which will complete theprocedures.
Notice, payment slip

3 If the Fine is Not Paid

RT Law 127, 128,130

Quick Hint
How the Fine is SpentFines are paid to thenational government
via a bank or post
office. These funds arelater issued to prefec­tures, cities, towns,
and villages as special
grants for traffic safetymeasures. The funds
are then used for traffic
safety facilities such as
traffic signals, roadsigns, and pedestrian
overpasses.

Fine

After being given a traffic violation notice and payment slip, if a driver does
not pay the fine within eight days, he or she must appear at the designated noti­
fication center to receive a written warning to pay the fine.
A person who receives this warning has 11 days including that day to pay
the fine at a bank or post office, which will complete the procedure. Those who
cannot appear at the notification center because they live too far away or forother reasons will be sent the warning by postal mail. In this case, the person
must pay the costs of mailing the warning along with the fine.
If the fine is not paid, the person must appear for trial at a criminal court orfamily court.

● Traffic Violation Notification System Process
Trial at crimi­
nal court

Violation committed

Severe violation• Particular violation andsevere violation of thelaw

Does notpay

Causes a traf­
fic accident

Does notpay

Does notcause a traffic
accident

Blue ticket
and pay­
ment slip

Minor violation• Minor violation of thelaw(act of violating traf­
fic laws)

Provisional
payment
within 8 days

●138Appears atnotification
centerWarning

Pays within
11 daysEnd ofprocedure

Trial atfamilycourtEnd ofprocedureRT Law 71I

3 Consideration Towards Pedestrians
More than a driver may realize, rainydays are unpleasant for pedestrians andbicyclists. When passing a pedestrian orbicyclist, take them into consideration anddrive so as not to splash them with mud orwater.

ReviewMark each of the following statements true or false to check your comprehensionof the preceding section.

1. At night it is better to turn on the interior lights to illuminate the driver’s seat.
2. When driving at night, even if an oncoming vehicle is approaching, lowering your lights
would make it more difficult to see in front, so there is no need to do so.
3. On rainy days, the road becomes slippery, making it difficult to stop, so it is better to step
hard on the brakes.
The correct answers are listed on the last page of the book.

5

Driving in the Fog, etc.

Driving in the fog, snowstorms, or similar conditions, reduces one's field ofvision. Therefore, it is important to use headlights, fog lamps and horns, toreduce speed and to drive with discretion.

1 Using Lights
When driving in mist, fog, snowstorms, or similar conditions, it is a good idea
to switch on headlights or fog lamps early and drive slowly while using the center line, guard rails, and the tail lamps of the vehicle ahead as rough guides toensure a safe distance between vehicles.
Light from the high beams will reflect back off the fog, reducing visibility.
Therefore, it is best to use the low beams.

2 Using the Horn
When it is necessary to plan for the prevention of danger, the horn can beused to signal others of your presence. For four-wheeled vehicles, open thewindow and listen for the movement of other vehicles.

●2161 Seating Capacities and Loading Restrictions

RT Law 57 I
Enforcement
Ordinance 22, 23
Safety Standard
53 II

The driver of a vehicle must not attempt to carry more than the establishedseating capacity (including the driver) or more than the restrictions on cargo allow.

12● Seating Capacities and Loading Restrictions
Type of Vehicle Seating Capacity Loading Capacity

Regularmotor
vehicles,quasimedium
vehicles,mediumvehicles,large vehicles, andspecial
heavyequipment
Regularmotorcycles
and largesize motorcycles(excludingmotorcycles
with sidecars)

MopedsAs noted on theautomobile
inspection certificate
or the compact
car registration
certificate.
(Minicars seatone person.)

As noted on theautomobile
inspection certificate or the compact car
registration certificate. (Minicars
can carry 90 kg.)

60 kg

3.8 m
or less
1

Heights up to 2.5 m or less are allowed forthree-wheeled regular motor vehicles andregular motor vehicles whose total engine
displacement is 660 cc or less.

Length of the carrying
device + 0.3 m or lessWidth of the carrying
device + 0.15 m or lessleft and right sides

2.0 m
or less

1(2 people may
ride if there is aseat other thanthe driver’s
seat.)

PracticeexampleDepending upon theroad and driving conditions, there are special
circumstances in which
the Public Safety
Commission has determined that a vehicle
height not exceeding
4.1m is acceptable, if it
is determined that there
are no road obstructions.

Quick Hint
What are the restrictions
regarding special-type
regular motor vehicles
and special heavy equipment?

30 kg

The seating capacity and themaximum load of the following vehicles is as follows:

700 kg

1 Regular agricultural-use
vehicles used for spraying
pesticides that cannot
travel at speeds greaterthan 35 km/hr:
Seating capacity: 1 Person
Loading capacity: 1,500 kg

Length of automobile × 1.1
or less(length + 1/10 of length)

Width ofautomobile
or less

2.0 m
or less

How to Calculate Seating Capacity When Carrying Children
Count three children under 12 years of age as two adults.

＝＊1

Height Restrictionsof Loading Methods

Width ofautomobileor less1(2 people mayride if there is aseat other thanthe driver’sseat.)

1Special
lightequipment

Size and Carrying Method of Cargo
Length of automobile × 1.1
or less(length + 1/10 of length)

Calculation of seating capacity(Seating capacity – number of adults riding)× 1.5 = number of children who can ride
Note: Discard the portion after the decimalpoint.

If 2 adults are riding in an automobile
having a seating capacity of 5 people,
how many children can ride?

Answerchildren

2 Special heavy equipmentused for agricultural workthat cannot travel atspeeds greater than35km/hr
Seating capacity: 1 Person
3 Special heavy equipment
4.7m or less in length,1.7m or less in width and2.8m or less in height thatcannot travel at speeds
greater than 15km/hr
Seating capacity: 1 Person
Loading capacity: 1,000 kg

Note: See answer onfollowing
page.

285●Carrying Passengers and Cargo

3Restrictions on Passengers andVehicle Loading