Japanese traffic signals and other driving fun

[chibaka]

Japanese cops explained to me that I was crossing while white, hence my 10% liability.

Amen to that. Cops pulled me over when I arrived in this backwater, actually followed me for a few kms, even though I drove around in circles to piss them off. Asked to see my license, then went on their way, but before the did I asked why?

Gaijin dakara.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Is this like Saudi? If you weren't there, then the accident wouldn't have happened. A Saudi is there as a matter of nature/God's will but a foreigner is there as a result of his own actions. Therefore any accident, is always the foreigner's fault. Simple.

So you get 10% of the blame simply because if you didn't happen to exist, the accident would never have happened.

Anyway, you have my sympathies. If your insurance company will do the fighting for you then great and feed them as well as you can and leave them to it. In my case (in the UK) another mom on the school run bumped our parked car and then did a runner. It was witnessed by other parents who got her number. My insurance company and hers were the same by chance. They refused to do a damn thing - Just kept lying that they hadn't received witness statements. In the end I had to find someone cheap and just get the work done so I could sell the car.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the upshot and power to your elbow.

A Brit I knew who worked in Saudi for a long time told me one of his expat buddies was rear ended and then ticketed for driving too close to the car behind him.

[Wage Slave]

Is this like Saudi? If you weren't there, then the accident wouldn't have happened. A Saudi is there as a matter of nature/God's will but a foreigner is there as a result of his own actions. Therefore any accident, is always the foreigner's fault. Simple.

So you get 10% of the blame simply because if you didn't happen to exist, the accident would never have happened.

Anyway, you have my sympathies. If your insurance company will do the fighting for you then great and feed them as well as you can and leave them to it. In my case (in the UK) another mom on the school run bumped our parked car and then did a runner. It was witnessed by other parents who got her number. My insurance company and hers were the same by chance. They refused to do a damn thing - Just kept lying that they hadn't received witness statements. In the end I had to find someone cheap and just get the work done so I could sell the car.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the upshot and power to your elbow.

A Brit I knew who worked in Saudi for a long time told me one of his expat buddies was rear ended and then ticketed for driving too close to the car behind him.

Absolutely routine. Thankfully 99% of my travel was by 737 and helicopter and 95% of my time in country I was offshore on wildcat oil wells. Apart from the incident connected with an Iraqi fighter pilot getting lost and taking a shot at an ally's production platform it was pretty safe,laid back and uneventful really. We certainly weren't breaking any speed records for drilling oil wells that's for sure.

[Mock Cockpit]

So they've already offered 90-10? Practically admitted it was 100% her fault then, just stick to your guns and you should be right. Don't waste your time going back and taking pictures they will only rely on the cop's report from the day of the accident. Just remember for next time "gee my neck hurts can you call an ambulance", the threat of making it an accident involving a personal injury is a powerful negotiating tactic.

[chibaka]

So they've already offered 90-10? Practically admitted it was 100% her fault then, just stick to your guns and you should be right. Don't waste your time going back and taking pictures they will only rely on the cop's report from the day of the accident. Just remember for next time "gee my neck hurts can you call an ambulance", the threat of making it an accident involving a personal injury is a powerful negotiating tactic.

No they haven't offered 90 - 10, just refused 100%. I know I know, this is Japan. The old bag spoke to my wife on the phone and said "I didn't see him". Suddenly after her insurance company is involved, "it's not my fault".

Completely out of character, my wife called her insurance guy a cunt. Or maybe I taught her well. We will fight them on the beaches.....

[Yokohammer]

At least it wasn't your Zed. That would have hurt.

Anyway, time for a drive recorder? I have two of the things, one for each car ... both still in the original packaging. I suppose I should get around to that.

That visual evidence can provide a lot if information even in a rear-end or t-bone type situation. If you're at fault just swallow the card ...


~ Tapatalking ~

[chibaka]

At least it wasn't your Zed. That would have hurt.

Anyway, time for a drive recorder? I have two of the things, one for each car ... both still in the original packaging. I suppose I should get around to that.

That visual evidence can provide a lot if information even in a rear-end or t-bone type situation. If you're at fault just swallow the card ...


~ Tapatalking ~

Well.... I did post somewhere here before. I tried one, a Chinese cheap job which worked ok with the front facing camera but the rear camera was pissed. When video from the rear camera was replayed on my PC, it was mirror image. All I actually caught was a fat local kid giving the middle finger... seek and ye shall find. Sent it back to Amazon and forgot to buy a replacement.... oops.

If she hit my zed, search the criminal section of JT for "obaa chan gets wheel brace stuck up her arse, laughing gaijin arrested'

[Wage Slave]

The old bag spoke to my wife on the phone and said "I didn't see him". Suddenly after her insurance company is involved, "it's not my fault".

There you go. I didn't see him. If he hadn't been there, I wouldn't have hit him. What was he doing there when I was driving out of a car park? And he's a foreigner - he had no business being there blocking the way of we Japanese. In her mind that's all perfectly reasonable - Not her fault at all.

[kurogane]

Just remember for next time "gee my neck hurts can you call an ambulance", the threat of making it an accident involving a personal injury is a powerful negotiating tactic.

Probably not a bad idea to try it this time. Soft tissue injuries often appear later. At the very least it should light a fire under the assholes' assholes.

[matsuki]

Just remember for next time "gee my neck hurts can you call an ambulance", the threat of making it an accident involving a personal injury is a powerful negotiating tactic.

Probably not a bad idea to try it this time. Soft tissue injuries often appear later. At the very least it should light a fire under the assholes' assholes.

THIS

Anyway, time for a drive recorder?

THIS!!!!!

THIS, the one I have has two cameras, one for front facing and another for the rear...or you can use them together to get like a 200 degree wide view up front. (which I'm considering cause the glare from the rear window doesn't make for the best rear facing footage....right now I have it so it catches the passenger-side and rear)

[chibaka]

With the driving skills I see around my place, I need a camera in every window!! Front and rear facing would not have caught the old cow

[Samurai_Jerk]

Is this like Saudi? If you weren't there, then the accident wouldn't have happened. A Saudi is there as a matter of nature/God's will but a foreigner is there as a result of his own actions. Therefore any accident, is always the foreigner's fault. Simple.

So you get 10% of the blame simply because if you didn't happen to exist, the accident would never have happened.

Anyway, you have my sympathies. If your insurance company will do the fighting for you then great and feed them as well as you can and leave them to it. In my case (in the UK) another mom on the school run bumped our parked car and then did a runner. It was witnessed by other parents who got her number. My insurance company and hers were the same by chance. They refused to do a damn thing - Just kept lying that they hadn't received witness statements. In the end I had to find someone cheap and just get the work done so I could sell the car.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the upshot and power to your elbow.

A Brit I knew who worked in Saudi for a long time told me one of his expat buddies was rear ended and then ticketed for driving too close to the car behind him.

Absolutely routine. Thankfully 99% of my travel was by 737 and helicopter and 95% of my time in country I was offshore on wildcat oil wells. Apart from the incident connected with an Iraqi fighter pilot getting lost and taking a shot at an ally's production platform it was pretty safe,laid back and uneventful really. We certainly weren't breaking any speed records for drilling oil wells that's for sure.

I just remembered another story from a French friend who spent time in Saudi. He had a driver and they were stopped at a traffic signal waiting for the light to change. Another car with a driver pulled up beside him and the passenger in the back was starting at him. The passenger was in full Saudi towelhead garb with a mustache and sunglasses. My friend gave him a friendly nod. The Saudi guy pulled out his cell phone and called the police. My friend was OK but they arrested and fined his driver for some reason. Sounds like a wonderful place.

[matsuki]

With the driving skills I see around my place, I need a camera in every window!! Front and rear facing would not have caught the old cow

Maybe not but it would have caught your safe/legal driving and being hit out of nowhere.

[Yokohammer]

With the driving skills I see around my place, I need a camera in every window!! Front and rear facing would not have caught the old cow

Multiple views help, but even with just the usual front view the "authorities" can see where you were at the time, whether you were moving or not and how fast, and the moment of impact.

Edit: and what Matsuki said.

[chibaka]

Just remember for next time "gee my neck hurts can you call an ambulance", the threat of making it an accident involving a personal injury is a powerful negotiating tactic.

Probably not a bad idea to try it this time. Soft tissue injuries often appear later. At the very least it should light a fire under the assholes' assholes.

THIS

THAT

And I agree about the cameras, I will try again, I won't cheap out next time. I think one of the Google street view jobs would do nicely..

Anyway, a day of learning today with my new best friend. My insurance company was informed I want 0% responsibility as common sense would dictate, but this is Japan. They say that in cases where the driver doesn't want to admit 100%, they start at 80 - 20. Then I will be asked to describe the scene, which I will do with my bestest crayons, they will fight it out with the other insurance.

I think her insurance has told her to deny full blame, so they can save money. 100% only happens if full fault is admitted, or the car which was hit was stationary. Even my friends insurance contacts say it's almost impossible otherwise.

So, if I can't get 0% for me, target will be 5% ~ 10%. Then it's time to get creative to find ways of covering that cost. I'm sure there are ways

[inflames]

So, if I can't get 0% for me, target will be 5% ~ 10%. Then it's time to get creative to find ways of covering that cost. I'm sure there are ways

This is quite easy if you no a good repair place (good as in good for you, not meaning the quality).

[Coligny]

If you need help to eat them crayon...

[Russell]

Is this like Saudi? If you weren't there, then the accident wouldn't have happened. A Saudi is there as a matter of nature/God's will but a foreigner is there as a result of his own actions. Therefore any accident, is always the foreigner's fault. Simple.

So you get 10% of the blame simply because if you didn't happen to exist, the accident would never have happened.

Anyway, you have my sympathies. If your insurance company will do the fighting for you then great and feed them as well as you can and leave them to it. In my case (in the UK) another mom on the school run bumped our parked car and then did a runner. It was witnessed by other parents who got her number. My insurance company and hers were the same by chance. They refused to do a damn thing - Just kept lying that they hadn't received witness statements. In the end I had to find someone cheap and just get the work done so I could sell the car.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the upshot and power to your elbow.

A Brit I knew who worked in Saudi for a long time told me one of his expat buddies was rear ended and then ticketed for driving too close to the car behind him.

Absolutely routine. Thankfully 99% of my travel was by 737 and helicopter and 95% of my time in country I was offshore on wildcat oil wells. Apart from the incident connected with an Iraqi fighter pilot getting lost and taking a shot at an ally's production platform it was pretty safe,laid back and uneventful really. We certainly weren't breaking any speed records for drilling oil wells that's for sure.

I just remembered another story from a French friend who spent time in Saudi. He had a driver and they were stopped at a traffic signal waiting for the light to change. Another car with a driver pulled up beside him and the passenger in the back was starting at him. The passenger was in full Saudi towelhead garb with a mustache and sunglasses. My friend gave him a friendly nod. The Saudi guy pulled out his cell phone and called the police. My friend was OK but they arrested and fined his driver for some reason. Sounds like a wonderful place.

Was the driver a babe?

[wagyl]

Was the driver a babe?

You do realise that humans who possess a vagina are prohibited from driving in Saudi Arabia...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Was the driver a babe?

You do realise that humans who possess a vagina are prohibited from driving in Saudi Arabia...

I think he was trying to be funny.

[Russell]

Was the driver a babe?

You do realise that humans who possess a vagina are prohibited from driving in Saudi Arabia...

I think he was trying to be funny.

Half.

If she was a babe, that would explain why the driver next to him made problems.

[chan]

As a pedestrian, I can't count the number of times I've nearly met my maker crossing on a pedestrian crossing where cars are allowed to turn left. Where else permits cars to cross a pedestrian crossing when the green man is telling people it's ok to cross. Just seems too risky to me. Isn't there a better way?

[chibaka]

As a pedestrian, I can't count the number of times I've nearly met my maker crossing on a pedestrian crossing where cars are allowed to turn left. Where else permits cars to cross a pedestrian crossing when the green man is telling people it's ok to cross. Just seems too risky to me. Isn't there a better way?

Yes there is, redesign the system so that pedestrians and cars should not share the same space at the same time... common sense. Oh hang on..

UK system is as described above, and it works. Of course accidents happen, but it's easier to apportion (logical) blame that way.

[kurogane]

Even rudimentary driver training would help. Part of the problem in Japan is that all people have to do is apply, take a simple written test even most Japanese could pass, then pay to attend a driving course and, Voila and Presto! they are considered qualified. It's really little different that opening a bank account or buying a TV, unless you're a foreigner, who are failed on principle for not knowing the heartful mind of pizza time. Developed countries have proper driver training and testing, which tends to help reduce the number of functioning retards on the road. Here in Vangroover a driver can turn right (so, UK&Japan left, eh) at almost any time, and from a one way street to another even on a red.......but there is one proviso...............when it is safe to do so. Given the recent increase of a particular sort of Recent Additions to Our Cultural Mosaic it seems to be morphing into more a matter of when the driver considers it necessary and/or convenient. I still enjoy how prescient that old Vapors hit really was.

[chibaka]

Here in Vangroover a driver can turn right (so, UK&Japan left, eh) at almost any time,

UK is the same as Japan except, if the car has a green light, the pedestrian certainly does not.

........when it is safe to do so

There is the crunch, that involves thinking, processing of information, situation analysis... Why do you think there are no give way or yield signs at junctions here? Because the decision is made for you.... except at lights, strange that.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Here in Vangroover a driver can turn right (so, UK&Japan left, eh) at almost any time,

UK is the same as Japan except, if the car has a green light, the pedestrian certainly does not.

........when it is safe to do so

There is the crunch, that involves thinking, processing of information, situation analysis... Why do you think there are no give way or yield signs at junctions here? Because the decision is made for you.... except at lights, strange that.

The only place I know of in the US with no right on red is NYC. Every other place I've lived has been the same as Vancouver. Pedestrians have the right of way of course.

[Yokohammer]

No left or right at a red light in Japan, unless there's a green arrow.


~ Tapatalking ~

[kurogane]

Yeah, that was what confused me about Chibaka and Chen's complaints. Then I figured out they meant a driver making a left under a green light but while the pedestrian walk sign was on. Separating those would be an easy fix but probably cause unintended chaos. Reinforcing the actual rule of pedestrian right of way might not hurt, but the chances it penetrates the jungle monkey mentality of the 25% crap drivers seems slim. I have noticed a serious decline in courteous yielding to pedestrians in Vancouver lately, and much of that seems to be white males with the signature Angry emblems: pickup truck and ball cap, though Obvious Chinese are no angels either. The real problem in Japan is the complete lack of any space cushion or leeway. I have had cars turn into a narrow Kyoto street and leave me with only less worse options, but we've always stopped short of each other. I would also suggest a proper driving education and testing regimen, but that's probably one of the only old school Showa rackets still running a profit.

[wagyl]

I would also suggest a proper driving education and testing regimen, but that's probably one of the only old school Showa rackets still running a profit.

If you truly are suggesting that getting a drivers licence in Japan is just a rubber stamp procedure, why do 30% fail? Only about 5% pass if they have not been to a school with an instructor but that is hardly surprising. http://1license.com/goukakuritu/hutuume ... ukakuritu/

[Samurai_Jerk]

I would also suggest a proper driving education and testing regimen, but that's probably one of the only old school Showa rackets still running a profit.

If you truly are suggesting that getting a drivers licence in Japan is just a rubber stamp procedure, why do 30% fail? Only about 5% pass if they have not been to a school with an instructor but that is hardly surprising. http://1license.com/goukakuritu/hutuume ... ukakuritu/

I had always heard the driving test in Japan was really tough. Then I took it and realized that it was but it wasn't. It doesn't actually require great driving ability but it is tough if you don't know exactly what the testers are looking for. It's all about memorizing kata and as long as you do everything in the right order with perfect form, you'll pass.

Disclaimer: I took the gaimen kirikae test which I hear is easier than the test for new drivers.

By the way, in the US the driving test is done on the open road not a closed course. How about in other countries?