Ch. 1 · Common Conduct

When a flashing red signal is displayed, you must come to a complete stop, confirm safety, and then proceed.

[True / False · Easy]

Answer: ✓ True

Explanation

Under Rules of the Road Ch.1 §2 and the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order §2, a flashing red signal means "stop at the stop line, then proceed when safe to do so." Unlike a flashing yellow signal (which permits proceeding with caution and has no mandatory stop), a flashing red always requires a full stop first.

Driving school curriculumStage 1 – Topic 2: Following traffic signals

Hikari

Flashing red is just like flashing yellow, so I can roll through slowly, right?

Yui

Nope! Flashing red is totally different—you must come to a complete stop first, check that it's safe, and then go. So this statement is true.

Hikari

So it's basically like a stop sign?

Yui

Yep, treat it exactly like that! Unlike flashing yellow, flashing red always requires a full stop before you proceed.

Source: Ch. 1 Common Conduct · Section (第２節信号) · Rules of the Road, Ch.1 §2 (Signals, Signs & Markings) / 1. Signals: Drivers must obey traffic-signal lights. When a police officer or traffic-directing officer is controlling traffic by hand signals or flashlight, those signals override the traffic-signal lights.

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Source content excerpted from the NPA “Rules of the Road” instructional manual, in the public domain under Japanese Copyright Act Article 13(2). Explanations are AI-assisted and copyrighted by the MenkyoQuest editorial team.