Ch. 2 · Pedestrian Conduct

On a road with no sidewalk or sufficiently wide roadside strip, pedestrians must always walk on the right edge of the road.

[True / False · Medium]

Answer: ✕ False

Explanation

According to the Rules of the Road, on a road with no sidewalk or sufficiently wide roadside strip, pedestrians must in principle walk on the right edge of the road. However, as an exception, if walking on the right edge would result in repeated crossings and be more dangerous, pedestrians may walk on the left edge.

Driving school curriculumStage 1 – Topic 8: Protection of pedestrians

Momoka
Momoka
No sidewalk means walk on the right edge — always, right?
Hikari
Hikari
That's false. Usually yes, but if the right side forces you to cross back and forth dangerously, you can use the left.
Momoka
Momoka
So there's actually an exception for safety?
Hikari
Hikari
Yep! The rule prioritizes keeping you safe over sticking rigidly to the right.

Source: Ch. 2 Pedestrian Conduct · Section (第2節 歩行者などの通るところ) · Rules of the Road, Ch.2 §2 (Where pedestrians walk) — Pedestrians use the sidewalk; where there is no sidewalk, walk on the right edge of the road (against traffic). On pedestrian roads, motor vehicles are prohibited except where specifically permitted.

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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.