Japanese traffic signals and other driving fun

[Yokohammer]

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?

Japan does both (closed course for tricky parking and other skills that would be difficult to test with any consistency on public roads, and public roads for the rest). But the school administers those tests, and if you pass that then you go on to the main license center for the written test.

The written test here was 100+ multiple choice questions. When I got my first license in the US back in around 1971, the DMV written test was only about 10 dead simple multiple choice questions on a little slip of paper that I filled out standing at a counter, IIRC.


~ Tapatalking ~

[kurogane]

Wagyl,
No, not truly.........and one of your antennaeses is broken

Only about 5% pass if they have not been to a school with an instructor but that is hardly surprising.

I agree, but why do you think it not surprising? As a professionally trained bus driver that was never passed after 3 attempts I have my own theories, and thanks to one loose lipped examiner an illuminating bit of evidence.

SJ,
Yes; kata is truly the concept. And simply playing the game as presented rather than going cowboy like I did by just taking the test. I finally got my Jpn licence because we later signed a reciprocal agreement, and even then they made me prove I had lived in Canada for 6 months after I got my licence.........in 1979...............at age 16..........The driver's licence exchange limbo is one of the finest examples of institutional culture clash I have ever seen.

From an ACTUAL conversation

EXAMINER: (after failing me, again)We can't just pass untrained foreign drivers and let them out on the streets, you know?
ME: Why not? You pass undertrained Japanese ones and let them out there all the time

That was from my 3rd and final try, so there was no fallout. After that I just went back to playing the older, looser IDP renewal game.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Japan does both (closed course for tricky parking and other skills that would be difficult to test with any consistency on public roads, and public roads for the rest). But the school administers those tests, and if you pass that then you go on to the main license center for the written test.

The written test here was 100+ multiple choice questions. When I got my first license in the US back in around 1971, the DMV written test was only about 10 dead simple multiple choice questions on a little slip of paper that I filled out standing at a counter, IIRC.

My test in Tokyo was 100% closed course. That seems to be the experience of all my friends as well. The written test you took in the US sounds like the written test for gaimen kirikae here. But, yeah. It's way too easy to get a license in the US.

Yes; kata is truly the concept. And simply playing the game as presented rather than going cowboy like I did by just taking the test. I finally got my Jpn licence because we later signed a reciprocal agreement, and even then they made me prove I had lived in Canada for 6 months after I got my licence.........in 1979...............at age 16..........The driver's licence exchange limbo is one of the finest examples of institutional culture clash I have ever seen.

I passed the first time with a perfect score and I was the only one in my group of 4 who did. The other 3 doing gaimen kirikae were young Japanese folks who had received licenses in the US. The only reason I passed is I took a gaimen kirikae course through a driving school which consisted of three one hour lessons on a driving course where the guy explained to me exactly what they pig testing me would be looking for.

Examples:

* When you check your mirrors and blind spot before changing lanes make sure you check in this order and make sure your leg moves when you turn your head to check the blind spot because you'll lose points if you only turn your head. Basically, exaggerate all of your movements to make sure the cop sees it.

* When they tell you speed up to 50 (?) kph and then slow down and stop at the line make sure you accelerate at this rate and don't hit 50 till this point on the course.

* When you drive through the narrow winding road you will automatically fail and the test will stop if your tire goes over the curb even the slightest. However, you can take as much time as you want and even roll down your window or open the door to check your tires not to mention back up and re-position as often as you like and you won't lose any points.

After the test the cop said, "Wow! You got 100%. You must have practiced." I could tell he was happy that I knew how to take it.

[kurogane]

I could tell he was happy that I knew how to take it.

Verily, and the examiner I had 2 times was obviously deeply disappointed I insisted on being failed by not taking that same course you did, as even he admitted I was plainly a "very good to excellent driver". Wiser you were, but that is what I meant about the institutional culture clash. To suggest you are good enough to take the test based on skill alone is a cultural affront that activates most or all of their Ware Ware signals. I think that was right about when my Inner Havill finally shrivelled and died. Fortunately he took my Inner Matsuki down with him

I actually don't have much problem with them failing the Japanese drivers doing that US licence on the cheap schtick, but the ones I saw all drove like Brazilians anyways. That whole system was flawed to begin with.

[Coligny]

I think I went too far on the kata stuff...
Examiner told me I was too robotic...
Over exageration and all...

[chan]

OK glad others agree that there's no reason moving traffic should be in the same space as pedestrians crossing on a green man signal. I feel safe in the UK knowing there'll be no traffic. Hate that my life is in the infinitesimal pedal movement of a driver.

Here's my next pedestrian complaint. See attached. See this everyday. No way I can see the traffic lights and no space to cross anyway. Driver avoids eye contact. No police enforcement.

Is there a site where drivers who do this shit can be named and shamed daily, Can't count on the police but I assume the transport/taxi companies would start to regulate their driver quality better if there brand image was being tarnished.

I don't recommend scaring the driver by banging loudly on the door as you walk past as I did this morning with this guy. Releases stress but not guaranteed safe

[Yokohammer]

...
I don't recommend scaring the driver by banging loudly on the door as you walk past as I did this morning with this guy. Releases stress but not guaranteed safe

No, that can:

a) Engender more gaijin hate, which none of us need.
d) Get you arrested.
c) Get the crap beaten out of you.

Or all of the above, in addition to getting run over.

~ Tapatalking ~

[chan]

...
I don't recommend scaring the driver by banging loudly on the door as you walk past as I did this morning with this guy. Releases stress but not guaranteed safe

No, that can:

a) Engender more gaijin hate, which none of us need.
d) Get you arrested.
c) Get the crap beaten out of you.

Or all of the above, in addition to getting run over.

~ Tapatalking ~

Arrested? Surely not.
What do you suggest in terms of grassroots activity, given lack of policing?

[Yokohammer]

It's the old Murphy's Law of law enforcement. There's never one around when you need one, or the other guy is at fault, but the instant you cross the line they come crawling out of the most unlikely places.

Grassroots activism not advised in a foreign country, unless you really know the ropes.


~ Tapatalking ~

[Coligny]

Ok, time to go back to the manual but 2 things here:

1 the traffic ligths only apply until the associated stop line.
2 never engage into an intersection if there are risks that you can not clear it before the signal change

Btw is that a sleeper cab !?

[chan]

It's the old Murphy's Law of law enforcement. There's never one around when you need one, or the other guy is at fault, but the instant you cross the line they come crawling out of the most unlikely places.

Grassroots activism not advised in a foreign country, unless you really know the ropes.


~ Tapatalking ~

I've seen police cars behind trucks who have completely covered a pedestrian crossing, blocking pedestrians and bikes, but do nothing. It starts to feel like this is a culturally accepted practice. Do I need to realign my expectations?!

[wagyl]

Wagyl,
No, not truly.........and one of your antennaeses is broken

I'm not so sure that it is broken. It still has the factory setting where it ignores an idiotic misstatement of the facts once, since that might be a joke, but then once the idiotic misstatement is repeated it starts to doubt the joke assessment and begins to think that the poster might actually believe what he or she is saying. That starts to colour the other antennae so that they read the rest of the poster's output through the idiot filter.

That factory setting saves having to second guess whether the poster is playing the fool every single post, which ends up being too much effort and takes all the joy out of coming to a site like this.

What settings are you using for your antennae?

[inflames]

Is there a site where drivers who do this shit can be named and shamed daily, Can't count on the police but I assume the transport/taxi companies would start to regulate their driver quality better if there brand image was being tarnished.

instantdomainsearch.com is your friend - sites like meiwakuunten.com are available and pretty much anybody can have a website ready to go with wordpress in 10 minutes.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Is there a site where drivers who do this shit can be named and shamed daily, Can't count on the police but I assume the transport/taxi companies would start to regulate their driver quality better if there brand image was being tarnished.

instantdomainsearch.com is your friend - sites like meiwakuunten.com are available and pretty much anybody can have a website ready to go with wordpress in 10 minutes.

Publicly shaming people online with photos in Japan could get you into legal trouble.

[matsuki]

Wagyl,
No, not truly.........and one of your antennaeses is broken

I'm not so sure that it is broken. It still has the factory setting where it ignores an idiotic misstatement of the facts once, since that might be a joke, but then once the idiotic misstatement is repeated it starts to doubt the joke assessment and begins to think that the poster might actually believe what he or she is saying. That starts to colour the other antennae so that they read the rest of the poster's output through the idiot filter.

That factory setting saves having to second guess whether the poster is playing the fool every single post, which ends up being too much effort and takes all the joy out of coming to a site like this.

What settings are you using for your antennae?

To be fair, it's Kuro...and even I wouldn't go as far as what he said.

My experience with the testing here was pretty annoying. First test I was failed because they thought my left turn from the narrow, windy, road onto the outer oval wasn't tight enough. (I call BS but whatever) Next test, I was almost killed by some Egyptian guy who could hardly shift (manual test) and hit the curb during the 50km/h portion...the cop was in a terrible mood after that and barking at me...stopped past a line at the stoplight. Last time went flawlessly but I agree the test was more about being able to robot the course rather than testing your driving skills. Would be a lot safer if they focused on the (unique?) differences of Japan's traffic laws rather than give you a rudimentary test.

Chan, take note of where the traffic signals are. At many intersections (at least in Tokyo) you can't see the signal if you are the first car at the light, let alone pulled out to make a turn....which has got me stuck there before, looking like an asshole...when there really is nothing you can do but guess when it's legal/safe to turn. (not sure if it's unique to Japan but the signal placement here at some intersections is really fucked!!)

BTW, almost killed two baba's on their mama-chari's on the way to work today. Got rerouted due to construction and as I made my way down the main side street, they came out fly from a blind intersection, right through a stop sign, only to nearly fall off their bikes in front of me. Got a hand wave head bow apology after their panic was over but sooo close to becoming human roadkill....knowing that I would likely go to jail for their fucking carelessness makes me wonder if anyone in these situations ever gets ticketed. (wishful thinking?)

[Wage Slave]

Matsuki, I have to wonder. I'm not talking about this particular incident but you do seem to have a lot more near misses than the rest of us. Perhaps it's just that you drive a lot more but perhaps too it's worth reflecting on for a moment. In the side streets around me I pretty much expect a bicycle or kids or some fool cutting the corner/drifting across the road to appear at any moment and drive accordingly. ie Much more slowly and more cautiously than I would at home.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Matsuki, I have to wonder. I'm not talking about this particular incident but you do seem to have a lot more near misses than the rest of us. Perhaps it's just that you drive a lot more but perhaps too it's worth reflecting on for a moment. In the side streets around me I pretty much expect a bicycle or kids or some fool cutting the corner/drifting across the road to appear at any moment and drive accordingly. ie Much more slowly and more cautiously than I would at home.

He's from California. They're notoriously aggressive drivers. Especially in the LA area. It's fucking unbelievable. The NYC area is pretty horrible too but at least they use their turning signals on the highway.

[Coligny]

I drive twice to the hospital and back plus once or twice more to get some food or cheezeburger...
Not taxi driver level but not too bad either as time on the road at every time of the day.
I always take notes and change underwear after a close call.
And I'm nowhere near Pocahontas numbers...
But since my driving strategery include never having to swerve as primary evading method , treating every intersection as an ambush and always having 1.5-2 cars safety distance there's a lot of stuff less likely to happen/surprise me. Plus there's this weird statistical anomaly where anytime i start to relax too much a cat cross in front of me... Kinda keep me nervous all the time.

[matsuki]

Matsuki, I have to wonder. I'm not talking about this particular incident but you do seem to have a lot more near misses than the rest of us. Perhaps it's just that you drive a lot more but perhaps too it's worth reflecting on for a moment. In the side streets around me I pretty much expect a bicycle or kids or some fool cutting the corner/drifting across the road to appear at any moment and drive accordingly. ie Much more slowly and more cautiously than I would at home.

He's from California. They're notoriously aggressive drivers. Especially in the LA area. It's fucking unbelievable. The NYC area is pretty horrible too but at least they use their turning signals on the highway.

I drive everyday...alot in Tokyo, often cross country....so I'm pretty sure that's the cause of more near misses than most....but SJ's explanation of LA drivers would be why I drive pretty defensively/cautiously and these are near-misses, not accidents. I was able to brake and stop in time this morning, no swerving or anything like that.

If I drove the way most people in LA do, I would have killed someone by now.

[Mock Cockpit]

But since my driving strategery include never having to swerve as primary evading method, treating every intersection as an ambush and always having 1.5-2 cars safety distance there's a lot of stuff less likely to happen/surprise me. Plus there's this weird statistical anomaly where anytime i start to relax too much a cat cross in front of me... Kinda keep me nervous all the time.

That's not your strategy that's bog standard defensive driving. Too few people employ it however.

[matsuki]

But since my driving strategery include never having to swerve as primary evading method, treating every intersection as an ambush and always having 1.5-2 cars safety distance there's a lot of stuff less likely to happen/surprise me. Plus there's this weird statistical anomaly where anytime i start to relax too much a cat cross in front of me... Kinda keep me nervous all the time.

That's not your strategy that's bog standard defensive driving. Too few people employ it however.

Right...I guess my point is if I was driving like the average person does here, tail gating, flying down narrow streets, signaling after I've already braked to make a ridiculously wide turn, I would have been involved in countless accidents and deaths. That being said, being a careful driver, will prevent many incidents but it can't stop other people from being assholes and giving you these situations.

[Coligny]

But since my driving strategery include never having to swerve as primary evading method, treating every intersection as an ambush and always having 1.5-2 cars safety distance there's a lot of stuff less likely to happen/surprise me. Plus there's this weird statistical anomaly where anytime i start to relax too much a cat cross in front of me... Kinda keep me nervous all the time.

That's not your strategy that's bog standard defensive driving. Too few people employ it however.

Kann sumewouan tail diss gaille zat Aye lisstaid my maythodt.
Not klaimaed copyright...

All that stuff is in the R&T laws. Just more on the recomended protocol side than on the numbered item list.
When your driving style is to "follow the book"... Then it's not "defensive driving" but just "driving".

[Mock Cockpit]

But since my driving strategery include never having to swerve as primary evading method, treating every intersection as an ambush and always having 1.5-2 cars safety distance there's a lot of stuff less likely to happen/surprise me. Plus there's this weird statistical anomaly where anytime i start to relax too much a cat cross in front of me... Kinda keep me nervous all the time.

That's not your strategy that's bog standard defensive driving. Too few people employ it however.

Kann sumewouan tail diss gaille zat Aye lisstaid my maythodt.
Not klaimaed copyright...

All that stuff is in the R&T laws. Just more on the recomended protocol side than on the numbered item list.
When your driving style is to "follow the book"... Then it's not "defensive driving" but just "driving".

As you yourself might say "Driving, I'ze doing it right"

[chibaka]

Any recommendations for drive cameras then? Seeing as there are a lot of driving concerns.... and I've got a partly fucked up car outside I think it's necessary. I'm leaning towards a rear view mirror fitted unit for the front, and a cheap small unit for the rear. Preferably easily removed to use on other cars if necessary. What say you FG's ...

[matsuki]

I have the rear view mirror style...seems to be the best setup for the front as the suction cup style suffer from everything from vibration issues/falling off to literally melting.

[chibaka]

I have the rear view mirror style...seems to be the best setup for the front as the suction cup style suffer from everything from vibration issues/falling off to literally melting.

This looks ok, better than the Chinese effort I tried

http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%A6%E3%83 ... %83%AB+dry

[Yokohammer]

Any recommendations for drive cameras then? Seeing as there are a lot of driving concerns.... and I've got a partly fucked up car outside I think it's necessary. I'm leaning towards a rear view mirror fitted unit for the front, and a cheap small unit for the rear. Preferably easily removed to use on other cars if necessary. What say you FG's ...

This is not a "recommendation" per se, because the two I bought are still in their respective boxes, but I did buy them because the reviews are generally very good and they have built-in Wi-Fi so that, with the iOS or Android App, you can download the footage directly to your phone or iPad without having to futz around with a card (although it does record to a card). Image quality is supposed to be good, color is supposed to be good, etc. Not too expensive. Another option to look at.

Transcend (Taiwanese, I think ... same people who make the memory cards) DrivePro 200

71v32h39I0L._SL1500_.jpg

They're fairly large though, and not rear-view type, so you'd either have to install on the windshield behind the mirror or on the dash. Being large has its advantage in terms of operation, and being obvious to people who might want to fuck with your car.

So yeah ... I'll post a proper review (perhaps over at the Guild) as soon as I actually install the things.

[matsuki]

Yoko, how do those mount? Cost?

I like the idea of mounting one in the rear...of the van you sicko!

[Yokohammer]

Yoko, how do those mount? Cost?

I like the idea of mounting one in the rear...of the van you sicko!

Sounds like you need a GoPro ... pervert.

Right now they're JPY 13,800 at Amazon.co.jp, which is a little less than I paid for mine (mine were closer to 15K I think).

Mounting is with an articulated arm that attaches to the windshield. They come with a sucker version, but you can buy a proper double stick version for just under 2K. I got those too.

If I could post an Amazon link I would, but for some reason I don't seem to be able to do that.

Just search for Transcend DrivePro 200.

Edit: This is the optional double-stick mount:

71NB7SJmbWL._SL1500_.jpg

[matsuki]

Yoko, how do those mount? Cost?

I like the idea of mounting one in the rear...of the van you sicko!

Sounds like you need a GoPro ... pervert.

....or 3....with the option 3D recording setup

Thanks, that looks really good...on my christmas list now! Seems like it could also double as a rear view mirror on my motorhome. (with a keitai mount)