Japan traffic rule changes in 2026 for the license conversion test

Three changes in 2026 matter when you study for the written test: from April 1, 2026, a driver passing a cyclist without enough space to the side must slow down to a safe speed; from April 1, 2026, cyclists aged 16 and over can get "blue ticket" fines for traffic violations; and from September 1, 2026, the legal speed limit on general roads with no center line and no median is 30 km/h (it was 60 km/h).

1. Passing a cyclist (from April 1, 2026)

When a car passes a bicycle and cannot leave enough space to the side, the driver must reduce speed to one that is safe for the distance left (Road Traffic Act, article 18, paragraph 3; National Police Agency: law amendments). Some articles quote a specific number of meters; we have not found such a number in the law text, so our practice statements do not use one.

2. Blue tickets for cyclists (from April 1, 2026)

Cyclists aged 16 and over can now be dealt with by a "blue ticket" (a fine for a minor traffic violation) instead of only by criminal procedure. For a driver this mainly means cyclists are held to the traffic rules more strictly; the rules for drivers around cyclists are unchanged except as in point 1.

3. 30 km/h on roads without a center line (from September 1, 2026)

On general roads that have no center line and no median strip, the legal speed limit where no sign or marking says otherwise is now 30 km/h, instead of 60 km/h (Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order, article 11; National Police Agency).

What this means for your study material

The National Police Agency's rules for road traffic (交通の方法に関する教則) are published as a consolidated text dated September 4, 2024. They have since been amended by National Public Safety Commission notices (2024 No. 47, 2026 No. 9 and 2026 No. 32), which are published separately; our statements follow the amended rules. Older books, for example the JAF "Rules of the Road" edition of February 2023, predate these changes. A separate law change from July 21, 2026 also makes the rules on drunk and dangerous driving stricter (listed below).

All rule changes behind our statements

Each line is one rule from our extracts of the amendment notices and law texts, with its source. A statement in the practice tests on these topics is written only from these lines.

From September 1, 2026

From 1 September 2026, where no speed limit is shown by signs or markings, a car must not exceed 30 km/h on general roads without a center line etc. (such as residential streets used mainly by local people), and 60 km/h on other general roads. (令和8年国家公安委員会告示第32号, 教則第5章第4節 1(1) (revised))
A 'general road without a center line etc.' (30 km/h default) means any general road EXCEPT: (1) parts of national expressways other than the main carriageway and its acceleration/deceleration lanes, (2) motorways (自動車専用道路), (3) general roads with a center line or traffic lanes (車両通行帯), (4) roads where traffic in the two directions is separated by the road structure or by barriers such as fences. These excepted roads keep the 60 km/h default. (令和8年国家公安委員会告示第32号, 教則用語のまとめ注8 (new))
Statutory maximum speed on general roads (Cabinet Order art. 11, from 1 Sep 2026): cars 60 km/h on roads with a center line or traffic lanes shown by signs/markings, roads whose two directions are separated by structure or barriers, motorways etc.; 30 km/h on other general roads. Mopeds (原動機付自転車): 30 km/h. (道路交通法施行令第11条 (令和6年政令第248号, 施行令和8年9月1日))
Even within the speed limit, consider road and traffic conditions, weather and visibility, and drive at a safe speed; especially on residential streets (生活道路), keep in mind that pedestrians have priority. (令和8年国家公安委員会告示第32号, 教則第5章第4節 1(3) (revised))

From July 21, 2026

From 21 July 2026, 'drunk' driving (酒酔い運転) explicitly includes having 0.5 mg or more of alcohol per liter of breath (or 1.0 mg or more per ml of blood), as well as any other state where alcohol may prevent normal driving. Penalty: up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 1,000,000 yen. (道路交通法第117条の2 (令和8年法律第52号による改正); 警察庁通達令和8年7月1日丙交企発第31号等)
From 21 July 2026, driving 50 or 60 km/h or more over the speed limit (depending on the limit), or at a similar speed that makes it extremely hard to avoid serious danger, is a 'dangerous driving' act: causing death or injury this way is dangerous driving causing death or injury (危険運転致死傷罪). (自動車の運転により人を死傷させる行為等の処罰に関する法律及び道路交通法の一部を改正する法律 (令和8年法律第52号); 警察庁通達令和8年7月1日)
From 21 July 2026, deliberately making the tires slide or lift (e.g. drifting) so that the car is hard to control is also a 'dangerous driving' act under the dangerous driving causing death or injury offence. (令和8年法律第52号; 警察庁通達令和8年7月1日丙交企発第31号等)

From April 1, 2026

When you pass (追抜き) a bicycle or specified small motorized bicycle on its right and there is not enough space between you and it, you must proceed at a safe speed that matches the gap. (令和8年国家公安委員会告示第9号 (官報令和8年3月31日号外第75号), 教則第5章第3節 7(3) (new))
A vehicle (other than bicycles/light vehicles and specified small motorized bicycles) passing on the right of a bicycle or specified small motorized bicycle going the same direction must, if there is not enough space between them, proceed at a safe speed suited to the gap. It does not apply to cyclists on a sidewalk or cycle track, or to overtaking (追越し). (道路交通法第18条第3項 (令和6年法律第34号で追加))
In that situation (a car passing on the right without enough space), the bicycle or specified small motorized bicycle must keep as far as possible to the left edge of the road. (道路交通法第18条第4項 (令和6年法律第34号で追加))
When you go past a bicycle or specified small motorized bicycle to overtake it (追越し), you must leave a safe space between you and it, or go slowly (徐行). (令和8年国家公安委員会告示第9号, 教則第5章第3節 7(2) (revised))
A cyclist or rider of a specified small motorized bicycle who is being passed by a vehicle other than a specified small motorized bicycle or light vehicle (e.g. a car), when there is not enough space, must keep as far as possible to the left edge of the road. (令和8年国家公安委員会告示第9号, 教則第3章第3節 2(14) (new))
Breaking the rule on passing bicycles (Road Traffic Act 18(3)) costs 2 penalty points and a fine (反則金) of 7,000 yen for an ordinary car. (警察庁通達令和7年6月20日丙交企発第60号等; 道路交通法施行令別表第2・第6)
Breaking the bicycle-passing rule (18(3)) on purpose to obstruct another road user, in a way that may cause danger, is a form of obstructive driving (妨害運転, 'road rage'): up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 500,000 yen. (道路交通法第117条の2の2 第1項第8号ロ; NPA 道路交通法等の改正 page (https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/law/index.html))
Since 1 April 2026, cyclists aged 16 or older are covered by the traffic violation notice system (blue ticket, 青切符): for certain violations they can pay a fixed fine (反則金) instead of criminal prosecution. (警察庁自転車の交通ルール page; 道路交通法第125条 (令和6年法律第34号))
Only people aged 16 or older are covered by the blue-ticket system; cyclists under 16 are not, and their violations are handled case by case. (警察庁自転車の交通ルール page)
For a cyclist (16+), holding and using a mobile phone while riding (携帯電話使用等（保持）) carries a 反則金 of 12,000 yen. (警察庁軽車両の反則行為と反則金の額 (道路交通法施行令別表第6))
For a cyclist (16+), ignoring a traffic signal carries a 反則金 of 6,000 yen (5,000 yen for ignoring a flashing signal). (警察庁軽車両の反則行為と反則金の額 (道路交通法施行令別表第6))

From April 1, 2025

A car owner/user must secure a parking place (保管場所) off the road, within 2 km of the base of use such as home. From 1 April 2025 the 教則 no longer contains the duty to stick the parking-place sticker (保管場所標章) on the car: that sentence was deleted. (令和6年国家公安委員会告示第47号, 教則第11章第1節 1 (revised; (2) deleted))

From March 24, 2025

When driving a car or moped on the road, you must hold the license for that vehicle type and must carry your license card or a My Number Card with the license recorded on it (免許証等). (令和6年国家公安委員会告示第47号, 教則第4章第2節 (revised))
If a police officer asks after a violation or accident, you must show your 免許証等. If you show a My Number Card with license data and the officer asks you to allow the steps needed to check that license data, you must comply. (令和6年国家公安委員会告示第47号, 教則第4章第2節 (revised))

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Last checked: October 23, 2026. Rules and procedures can change; the license center that handles your application decides.