Ch. 5 · Driving Method

The area near the top of an uphill slope has poor visibility and easily becomes a blind spot, so you must slow down to a stop-ready speed (jokō), and you must not overtake in that location.

[True / False · Medium]

Answer: ✓ True

Explanation

The Rules of the Road state that the area near the top of an uphill slope has poor visibility, so you must slow down to a stop-ready speed (jokō), and you must not overtake there. The area near the top is a blind spot where oncoming vehicles are difficult to see, so jokō and a prohibition on overtaking are required.

Driving school curriculumStage 2 – Topic 3: Blind spots and driving

Hikari
Hikari
Near the top of a hill I just need to slow down a bit, but I can still overtake if I'm careful, right?
Misaki
Misaki
No, the statement is true. You must slow to a stop-ready speed and you must not overtake there—the hilltop is a blind spot where oncoming vehicles are hard to see.
Hikari
Hikari
So even if the road looks clear, overtaking is banned?
Misaki
Misaki
Correct. What you can't see over the crest is the real danger, so the rules prohibit overtaking entirely in that zone.

Source: Ch. 5 Driving Method · Section (第３節 歩行者の保護など) · 第６章第２節１（３）「上り坂の頂上付近は見通しが悪いので、徐行しましよう。また、そこでは追越しをしてはいけません。」

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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.