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Typical questions asked in Japanese scooter license test

Ananda Kafle

©Ananda Kafle: No part of the following content can be copied and reproduced either exactly or with modification, without appropriately crediting the author.

Here I have given 44 of the 48 questions asked in the test for obtaining a scooter license in Japan. I have compiled these questions based on my own memory, and hence, they are not copies of the exact questions asked in the test I attended. I have posted it here hoping that it will be useful for those foreigners wanting to use a 50 cc scooter in Japan. I have not revised the questions for their language quality, so, if there is any problem in understanding them, please put your comments below. Your feedback and comments regarding any of the points given here are warmly welcomed. 

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false. 
1.     While driving a motorbike we have to wear clothes which loosely cover the whole of the body, so that the body can be moved with ease.
2.     A vehicle moving uphill should slow down and let go of the vehicle coming downhill since it is hard for the oncoming vehicle to decelerate.
3.     In the event of a road accident, you will keep the scene unchanged for protecting the evidence.
4.     Consumption of just a few alcoholic drink or cough syrup is okay for driving a vehicle.
5.     I do not offer alcohol to a friend because he is going to drive a car.
6.     You can ride your vehicle in the period of suspension of your license since a suspension is not the same as its revocation.   
7.     I can park my scooter even within 5 meters of the pedestrian or bicycle crossings since it can be easily seen by others.
8.     I have to stop by the pedestrian or bicycle crossing even if there is no one crossing the road.
9.     I can drag my scooter on the walkway while its engine is running.
10.  While riding a bike close to a truck, I must be careful since the driver of the truck may not notice me.
11.  The sign for a U-turn and a right turn is the same for a motorbike, but while taking a U-turn, I must proceed carefully while looking for approaching vehicles.
12.   On an expressway where there is a sign of no parking along the side strip, it means I must not park inside the side strip.
13.  The following road-sign means there is a crossway ahead.

14.  The following sign on the road is a “no stopping zone” sign. If I think I may get stuck in that area due to the busy traffic ahead, I wouldn’t enter it.

15.  While driving a motorcycle, I must slow down along a roundabout.
16.  I must not exceed the speed limit fixed for my vehicle, except when I am overtaking another vehicle.
17.  A yellow, continuous line in the road means one should not overtake there. But, when I am really in a hurry, I can overtake if no vehicle is approaching behind me.
18.  While driving on a road, I must be considerate about the convenience of other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
19.  If the hand signals by traffic police contradict traffic lights, I can ignore his signals.
20.  For the vehicles approaching from his back and front, the following signal by traffic police bears the same meaning as the red light.

21.  I should not park at a place with a “no parking” sign, except for a short time.
22.  I am passing into a railway crossing despite sounding of the alarm because the gates have not started lowering.
23.  I would not overtake a vehicle ahead of me within a distance of 30 meters from a pedestrian or bicycle crossing.
24.  I would not drive closer than 1 meter from an old-age citizen’s car, except when it is unsafe to keep that distance.
25.  In principle, no luggage can be placed in a car at places other than the seats and the trunk.
26.  A moped taking a two-step right turn at an intersection where such a sign is
              placed should not turn the right-side blinker on, because it may confuse other approaching drivers.
27.  On a dry road, more stress should be given on the front brake, while on a wet road, more stress should be given on the rear brake.
28.  While starting a motorbike with an automatic transmission system, I have to suddenly turn the accelerator on and off for a proper start.
29.  The knowledge about the forces such as centrifugal force and friction is not so important for the driver of a motorcycle.
30.   The braking distance for a vehicle having old tires with wears and tears on a wet road is about twice the braking distance for a vehicle with new tires.
31.  The shoes like Japanese wooden cog shoes should not be worn while driving since they make it difficult to move the feet.
32.  If a vehicle skids due to over-speed or for other reasons, the best way is to slam on its brakes.
33.  If you witness a hit-and-run case, you would call the police, and tell them about the appearance of the vehicle that hit and ran, the direction in which it fled, and its number, if possible.
34.  You should not overtake a vehicle that is trying to overtake another vehicle.
35.  When you are preparing to overtake, you would let the vehicles behind you know your intention by turning on, the left-side blinker on your vehicle.
36.  When another vehicle is coming from your opposite side in the night, you will lower and dim your headlight.
37.  While starting to ride a motorbike, you would take a comfortable posture with your back straight and the eyes looking straight ahead.
38.  Releasing the accelerator would help the engine brake to hold its grip.
39.  While driving near an elementary school, you should be particularly careful since the children may come suddenly into the road without caring about the vehicles, if something catches their interest.
40.  I would not drive too close to a vehicle in front of me except when it is unsafe to do so.
41.  Where there is no side strip, you should not drive closer than 0.5 meters from the edge of the road.
42.  On a rainy day, you should not pass too close to the edge of a hillside road since it is loose and may easily slide.
43.  While passing through a railway crossing, there is a car just in front of you. Which of the following would you do?
a)     I cannot see the traffic on the opposite side since the car has blocked, therefore, I would wait for the car to proceed first and reach the opposite side, then proceed if sufficient space is available for my vehicle.
b)    I would cross parallel to the car.
c)     I would not move to the extreme left edge of the road even if a truck is coming from my opposite side.
44.   A car suddenly stops more than 30 meters away from you, at the stop-line near the pedestrian cross. What would you do?
a)     Slow down and proceed carefully while looking for the possibility of the car’s driver opening his right door.
b)    Overtake the car quickly without waiting for a while, so that even if he/she opens the door, you are not affected.

c)     The pedestrians on the side of the road may think that the car has stopped, and therefore start to cross the road. Therefore, you would quickly pass ahead before they jump into the road.  
©Ananda Kafle


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