Ch. 1 · Common Conduct

When a traffic signal and a police officer's hand signal give different instructions, the traffic signal takes priority.

[True / False · Medium]

Answer: ✕ False

Explanation

According to the Rules of the Road, when a traffic signal and a police officer's hand signal differ, the police officer's hand signal takes priority. Follow the officer's directions when traffic is being controlled on site.

Driving school curriculumStage 1 – Topic 2: Following traffic signals

Hikari
Hikari
The traffic light is automatic, so wouldn't it always take priority?
Yui
Yui
Nope, that's actually false. When there's a conflict, the police officer's hand signal wins every time.
Hikari
Hikari
Seriously? So ignore the light and just watch the officer?
Yui
Yui
Yep! The officer is managing live conditions on the ground, so they override the signal. Always follow the human when both are present.

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.