1. How to Ensure Safety
1.1 Signaling and Double-Checking for Safety
Vehicles have areas which cannot be seen from the driver's seat (blind spots). Before getting into a vehicle, check that no people are at the front, rear, left, or right of the vehicle, and that no children are underneath the vehicle.
When starting to move the vehicle, check the surroundings for safety, signal using a turn signal, etc., then check the front, rear, left, and right for safety again using the driver's own eyes, rearview mirrors, etc.
Ensuring safety while traveling:
Although the field of view from the driver's seat of an automobile varies depending on the structure of the automobile itself, there are areas in which vehicles or pedestrians are not visible. In particular, be cautious in large automobiles, medium-sized automobiles, and semi-medium-sized automobiles, as their blind spot areas are wider than that of regular automobiles.
Starting to move from the edge of the road:
Compared to regular automobiles, the bodies of large, medium-sized, and semi-medium-sized automobiles are longer in front and rear of the axles, and the part of the body passes outside of the paths of the tires. Therefore, when starting to move while parked or stopped at the edge of the road, be cautious so as not to hit vehicles, pedestrians, etc. with the front or rear of the vehicle body.
Cautions for reversing:
- ① Backing up when starting to move is dangerous. When parking in a garage, etc., back into it to make it easier to start moving.
- ② When backing up to start to move is unavoidable and when visibility to the rear is poor or when backing up from a narrow road to a wider road, have a passenger, etc. help in ensuring safety to the rear as well as to the left and right.
1.2 Ensuring Safety While Traveling
While driving, check for safety sufficiently on both sides and behind, not only forward. The method is described below:
- Do not focus on one point, but try to look at a wide area.
- Use rearview mirrors, etc.
There are areas not visible in the interior rearview mirror or the side mirrors. Check the areas not visible in the rearview mirrors by looking directly over the shoulder (looking with own eyes).
- Ask for the cooperation of passengers.
2. When and How to Signal
Signaling is for notifying others when moving to the center or the left edge of the road to turn right or left, cut across the road, make a U-turn, etc.; when parking or stopping at the edge of the road; when starting to move from the edge of the road; when overtaking, etc. It is important that the movement of the vehicle is conveyed correctly to surrounding traffic.
- When turning left or right, changing course, making a U-turn, reversing, etc., or when exiting a roundabout, a driver must check for safety beforehand using rearview mirrors, etc., signal, then continue to signal until the maneuver is completed.
- If the turn signal returns to its original position while signaling, the driver must activate the turn signal again to signal.
- When the turn signal is difficult to see due to the reflection of the evening sun, etc., use a hand signal along with the turn signal.
Timing and method when signaling:
| When to signal | Timing (place) to signal | Signaling methods |
|---|---|---|
| Turning left (excluding roundabouts) |
When the vehicle reaches the point 30 m before the place where the driver intends to take the action (or the intersection) | Turn on the left turn signal, or stick your right arm out and bend the elbow to raise the hand vertically, or stick the left arm out horizontally. |
| Exiting a roundabout | After passing beside the exit before the desired exit (if exiting at the first exit, when entering the roundabout) ※ Do not signal when entering a roundabout. |
Same as above |
| Changing course to the left | Approximately 3 seconds before starting to change course | Same as above |
| Turning right or making a U-turn | When the vehicle reaches the point 30 m before the place where the driver intends to take the action | Turn on the right turn signal, or stick the right arm out horizontally, or stick the left arm out and bend the elbow to raise the hand vertically. |
| Changing course to the right | Approximately 3 seconds before starting to change course | Same as above |
| When proceeding slowly or stopping | When the driver wants to proceed slowly or stop | Turn on the brake lights or stick the arm out and extend it downward diagonally. |
| Reversing | When the driver wants to reverse | Turn on the reversing lights, or extend the arm out, extend it downward diagonally, and move it back and forth with the palm facing the rear. |
3. Prohibition against Unnecessary Signaling
When the maneuver of turning right or left, changing course, making a U-turn, reversing, etc. has completed, the driver of the vehicle must promptly stop signaling. Further, a driver must not signal unnecessarily.
4. When to Use the Horn
A driver of a vehicle must sound the horn in the following cases:
① When passing a "sound horn" sign
Sound horn at the traffic sign.
② When passing one of the following places inside a "sound horn zone":
- An intersection with poor visibility
- A corner of a road with poor visibility
- A top of an upward slope with poor visibility
※ The horn may not be sounded when visibility is good. It does not mean "keep sounding the horn throughout the sound horn zone".
5. Restrictions on Using the Horn
A driver must not sound the horn without due cause, in cases (places) that are not designated. (Prohibition against improper use of the horn)
However, a driver may sound the horn when it is necessary to avoid danger.
When necessary to avoid danger:
Refers to cases when sounding the horn is the only way to avoid danger.
- When a vehicle in front backs up suddenly.
- When a driver judges there is danger because the visibility ahead is poor due to dense fog, etc.
- When an oncoming vehicle suddenly crosses the center line, and using the horn is necessary to avoid collision.
※ Even when avoiding danger, reduce speed first, and use the horn as little as possible.
Improper uses of the horn:
Improper use of the horn not only produces noise but may also provoke the other party, leading to trouble. A driver must not use the horn in the following cases:
- To signal the arrival of a vehicle or when passing an acquaintance.
- To urge another vehicle to start moving.
- To cut in by force or to overtake.