Gaimen Kirikae written test practice questions (50-question format)

Chapter 4: Before driving a car or a general moped

Questions 1–10

1. Before driving a car, check that a valid inspection certificate and a compulsory liability insurance certificate (or mutual aid certificate) are carried in the vehicle.
   自動車を運転する前には、有効な自動車検査証と自動車損害賠償責任保険証明書（又は責任共済証明書）を車に備えていることを確かめる。
   Show answer and reason

   ○ True

   The rulebook lists this among the things you must check before every drive. These documents are not meant to be kept at home or in an office — they belong in the vehicle itself.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「自動車を運転する前には、必ず次のことを確かめましよう。」

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「有効な自動車検査証と自動車損害賠償責任保険証明書又は責任共済証明書を自動車に備えていること。」

2. Even if your licence carries the condition "must wear glasses etc.", you may drive without them on a day when you feel your eyesight is fine.
   運転免許証に「眼鏡等使用」の条件が記載されていても、その日の視力に自信があれば眼鏡をかけずに運転してよい。
   Show answer and reason

   × False

   Observing the conditions attached to your licence is one of the checks required before every drive. A condition is the premise on which the licence was granted; it is not something you can set aside by your own judgement on the day.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「運転免許証に記載され、又は免許情報記録個人番号カードに記録されている条件（眼鏡等使用など）を守つていること。」

3. A novice driver within one year of obtaining an ordinary licence may choose whether or not to display the beginner's mark when driving an ordinary car.
   普通免許を受けて１年を経過していない初心運転者が普通自動車を運転するとき、初心者マークを付けるかどうかは運転者の自由である。
   Show answer and reason

   × False

   The rulebook says to confirm before driving that the beginner's mark "is displayed" at the prescribed positions front and rear. That wording differs from the elderly-driver and disabled-driver marks, which you are merely asked to "try to display".

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「準中型免許又は普通免許を受けて１年を経過していない初心運転者が普通自動車を運転するときは、その車の前と後ろの定められた位置に初心者マーク（付表５（３））を付けていること。」

4. A driver aged 70 or over driving an ordinary car should try to display the elderly-driver mark at the prescribed positions front and rear.
   70歳以上の高齢運転者が普通自動車を運転するときは、車の前と後ろの定められた位置に高齢者マークを付けるように努める。
   Show answer and reason

   ○ True

   The elderly-driver mark is written as something to "try to display" — an effort, not a hard duty. Its purpose is to tell surrounding drivers that an older driver is at the wheel, so that they refrain from forcing an overtake or cutting in.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「70歳以上の高齢運転者が普通自動車を運転するときは、その車の前と後ろの定められた位置に高齢者マーク（付表５（４））を付けるようにしましよう。」

5. A driver whose licence carries conditions because of a physical disability may not drive an ordinary car unless the disabled-driver mark is displayed.
   肢体不自由であることを理由に免許に条件を付されている運転者は、身体障害者マークを付けなければ普通自動車を運転することができない。
   Show answer and reason

   × False

   The disabled-driver mark is written as something to "try to display"; not displaying it does not in itself bar you from driving. It is there to ask surrounding drivers for consideration.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「肢体不自由であることを理由に免許に条件を付されている身体の不自由な運転者が普通自動車を運転するときは、その車の前と後ろの定められた位置に身体障害者マーク（付表５（６））を付けるようにしましよう。」

6. Checking that emergency signalling devices and stop-warning equipment are carried in the vehicle is one of the things you must confirm before driving.
   非常信号用具や停止表示器材などを車に積んでいることは、自動車を運転する前に必ず確かめることの一つである。
   Show answer and reason

   ○ True

   These devices exist to make you visible to following traffic when a breakdown or crash leaves you stopped on the road. You cannot go and buy one once you are stopped, so the check belongs before you set off.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「自動車を運転する前には、必ず次のことを確かめましよう。」

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「非常信号用具や停止表示器材（停止表示板又は停止表示灯をいいます。）などを車に積んでいること。」

7. Even for a short trip you need a driving plan suited to your own skill and to the vehicle's performance.
   短い区間を運転するときにも、自分の運転技能と車の性能に合った運転計画を立てることが必要である。
   Show answer and reason

   ○ True

   The rulebook says "for long drives of course, but for short runs as well". Settling the route, the time needed, where to rest and where to park in advance means you are not hunting for a road or a parking space while driving.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「長距離運転のときはもちろん、短区間を運転するときにも、自分の運転技能と車の性能に合つた運転計画を立てることが必要です。」

8. When driving for a long stretch, take a rest at least once every two hours.
   長時間にわたって運転するときは、２時間に１回は休息をとる。
   Show answer and reason

   ○ True

   Fatigue is hard to notice in yourself, and by the time you do notice it your attention has already dropped. That is why rest is set by the clock rather than by whether you feel sleepy. The rulebook also says that if drowsiness comes on you should rest promptly and shake it off before driving again.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「長時間にわたつて運転するときは、２時間に１回は休息をとりましよう。」

9. Even after taking a cold medicine with a sedative effect, you may drive as long as you do not feel sleepy.
   睡眠作用のある風邪薬を服用したときでも、眠気を感じていなければ運転してよい。
   Show answer and reason

   × False

   The rulebook tells you not to drive after taking a cold or headache medicine with a sedative effect. Such a drug dulls judgement and reaction before you feel any drowsiness at all, so "I don't feel sleepy" is not a usable test.

   Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

   「また、睡眠作用のある風邪薬や頭痛薬などを服用したときは、運転をしないようにしましよう。」

10. If you drank the previous evening, the alcohol is certain to have worn off by the next morning, so you may drive.
    酒を飲んだのが前の晩であれば、翌朝には酒の影響は必ず消えているので運転してよい。
    Show answer and reason

    × False

    Alcohol drunk the night before can still be affecting you when you drive the next morning. How fast it leaves the body depends on how much you drank and on the person, so a night's sleep is no proof that it has gone.

    Source: Rules for Road Use, Ch.4 Sec.1 "運転に当たつての注意"

    「また、酒を飲んだのが前夜であつても、翌朝の運転時まで酒の影響を受けていることがあることに注意しましよう。」