Stage 1 Course Content 5 — Priority for Emergency Vehicles, etc.

1. Priority for Emergency Vehicles

Due to the importance and urgency of the duty of emergency vehicles, they have the right of way over other vehicles. When an emergency vehicle approaches, a vehicle must give way, regardless of whether it is approaching from ahead, behind, or either side. Pay due attention, since the emergency vehicle may travel out of its lane to its right. Turning down the volume of the car stereo or opening the window to check the direction is necessary in cases such as when a siren is heard but the direction cannot be discerned.

Reference — "Emergency vehicle"

Refers to fire trucks, ambulances, and other automobiles that have been designated by the Public Safety Commission pursuant to Cabinet Order and have sirens active, have red lights flashing, and are driving to do emergency-related tasks (Emergency vehicles engaging in traffic control may, at times, not activate their sirens). Automobiles being guided by police emergency vehicles or vehicles of the Self-Defense Forces being guided by emergency vehicles of the Self-Defense Forces are also considered emergency vehicles.

Special exceptions for emergency vehicles (examples)

Stipulations of laws and regulations may not apply to emergency vehicles in cases such as the following, to proceed in a way that ensures urgency, etc.:

  1. Emergency vehicles may proceed crossed over into the right side of the road to overtake or for other unavoidable reasons.
  2. Emergency vehicles may proceed slowly while paying attention to other traffic, even if laws and regulations stipulate that it should stop.
  3. The stipulation of maximum speed limit does not apply to emergency vehicles controlling speed violations.

1. When an Emergency Vehicle Approaches at or near an Intersection

At or near an intersection, a vehicle must give way as follows.

  1. Move to the left side of the road and come to a stop outside the intersection.
  2. On a one-way road, if moving to the left would obstruct the emergency vehicle, move to the right side of the road and come to a stop outside the intersection.

2. When an Emergency Vehicle Approaches at a Place Not at or near an Intersection

At a place not at or near an intersection, a vehicle must give way as follows.

  1. Move to the left side of the road.
  2. On a one-way road, if moving to the left would obstruct the emergency vehicle, move to the right side of the road.

2. Priority for Route Buses, etc.

1. Prohibition against Obstructing Route Buses, etc. Starting to Move

When a route bus, etc. that is stopped at a bus stop signals that it is about to start moving (to change course) using a turn signal, etc., vehicles behind must not obstruct the move. However, when avoidance would require sudden braking or sudden steering, the vehicle may continue to proceed.

Reference — "Route bus, etc."

  1. Public buses (public automobiles for ride-sharing that transports passengers on a set route)
  2. School or kindergarten buses
  3. Automobiles designated by the Public Safety Commission (shuttle buses for commuting, etc.)

2. Roads with an Exclusive Lane

  1. On a road with an exclusive lane for route buses, etc. designated by traffic signs or pavement markings, vehicles not light special equipment, motorized bicycles, or non-motorized conveyances must not proceed in that vehicular lane.
  2. Traffic signs or pavement markings may designate an exclusive lane for regular bicycles. In such cases, vehicles other than specified light motorized bicycles and non-motorized conveyances must not proceed in that vehicular lane. However, they may proceed in the following cases:
    • When moving to the right edge, center, or left edge of the road to turn right or left.
    • When unavoidable due to roadwork, etc.
    • When giving way to emergency vehicles.

3. Roads with a Priority Lane

On a road with a priority lane for route buses, etc. designated by traffic signs or pavement markings, automobiles not route buses, etc. may proceed in that vehicular lane, however they must behave as follows unless moving to the right edge, center, or left edge of the road to turn right or left or it is unavoidable due to roadwork, etc.

  1. Such vehicles must leave the lane promptly when a route bus, etc. approaches.
  2. When traffic is congested and there is a risk of not being able to leave the lane if a route bus, etc. approaches, vehicles must not enter that lane.
  3. Light special equipment, motorized bicycles, and non-motorized conveyances may continue to proceed in the priority lane.

Reference — How "light special equipment, etc." are to proceed in exclusive and priority lanes

Light special equipment, motorized bicycles, and non-motorized conveyances must proceed in the leftmost lane, unless unavoidable due to turning right, roadwork, etc. Further, on a road with the leftmost lane designated as an exclusive lane for route buses or priority lane for route buses, etc., they may continue to proceed in that lane even when route buses, etc. approach or when traffic is congested. However, if the leftmost lane is an exclusive lane for regular bicycles, light special equipment and general motorized bicycles may not proceed there, so they must proceed in the lane to the immediate right of it.

Let's Try — Course Content 5 — Check your understanding with right/wrong questions.

(See page 275 for answers.)

  1. While proceeding near an intersection, an emergency vehicle approached, so the vehicle moved to the left side of the road and came to a stop outside the intersection.
  2. If in an intersection when noticing that an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind, a vehicle must immediately stop in place to give way.
  3. An emergency vehicle approached, but it was not near an intersection, so a vehicle moved to the left side of the road to give way.
  4. While proceeding on a one-way road not near an intersection, an emergency vehicle approached, so a vehicle moved to the left, though it could obstruct the passage of the emergency vehicle.
  5. A route bus that was stopped at a bus stop signaled that it is about to start moving using a turn signal, etc., so a vehicle proceeded slowly to allow the bus to move first.
  6. (Exclusive lane traffic sign) — Vehicles not a route bus must not proceed in a lane with this traffic sign, even when turning left.
  7. When a regular automobile is going to proceed in a priority lane for route buses, etc., it must not enter that lane when traffic is congested and there is a risk of not being able to leave the lane.
  8. While traveling in a priority lane for route buses, etc. in a regular automobile, a kindergarten bus approached from behind, but the driver decided that it is not a priority vehicle and continued to proceed without giving way.

(正: right, 誤: wrong)