追越し vs 追抜き: Overtaking vs Passing in Japan's Test

Comparison table: overtaking vs passing

The Road Traffic Act (道路交通法), Art. 2(1)(xxi), defines overtaking as "when a vehicle catches up with another vehicle, changing its course, passing alongside that vehicle and moving in front of it." Getting ahead alongside without changing course is 追抜き. The Act has no separate defined term for it, but the Rules of the Road (交通の方法に関する教則) and the test treat the two as different acts.

Example on a road with two lanes each way: you stay in the right lane and end up ahead of a car in the left lane → passing (追抜き). You move from the left lane to the right lane to get past the car ahead and then return → overtaking (追越し).

Rules that apply only to overtaking

Overtaking means changing course, speeding up and returning — a complex maneuver — so it carries more rules than passing.

The signal for overtaking falls under "changing course while proceeding in the same direction" in Art. 21 of the Enforcement Order (道路交通法施行令), so you signal 3 seconds before. That is different from the 30 m rule for left turns, right turns and U-turns.

• Overtake on the right of the vehicle ahead. If that vehicle has moved toward the center (the right edge on a one-way road) to turn right, overtake on its left (Art. 28)
• Do not start overtaking when the vehicle ahead is overtaking a motor vehicle (double overtaking, 二重追越し, Art. 29). If it is overtaking a moped (原動機付自転車), that is not double overtaking
• Do not overtake when the vehicle ahead is about to move right, when you would block oncoming traffic, or when the car behind is overtaking you (Rules of the Road)
• Do not overtake near a curve, near the top of an uphill slope, on a steep downhill slope, in a tunnel without marked lanes, or at intersections and railroad crossings and within 30 m before them (Art. 30; intersections are excepted when you are on a priority road, 優先道路)

Where even passing is banned

Art. 38(3) of the Road Traffic Act prohibits passing alongside a moving vehicle ahead to get in front of it at a pedestrian crossing (横断歩道), a bicycle crossing (自転車横断帯), and within 30 m before them. So only in this zone is 追抜き also prohibited. The Rules of the Road say the same: do not overtake or pass other vehicles there.

The reason is that a pedestrian may step out from behind the vehicle ahead. If you want to pass a vehicle stopped just before a crossing, you must also come to a full stop before getting in front of it (Art. 38(2)).

Both the no-overtaking rule (Art. 30) and Art. 38(3) exclude passing light vehicles (軽車両) such as bicycles and specified small motorized bicycles (特定小型原動機付自転車, e.g. e-scooters). Ordinary mopeds are not excluded.

Real test questions

These are questions from our question set (English version) with answers.

• "Overtaking means changing course and moving ahead of a moving vehicle in front of you." → True
• "At a pedestrian crossing and within 30 meters before it, not only overtaking but also passing is prohibited." → True
• "You must not overtake or pass a vehicle that is displaying the elderly driver mark." → False. What is banned is pulling alongside to squeeze it and cutting in so it cannot keep a safe distance.
• "When the vehicle ahead is trying to overtake a motorized bicycle (moped), overtaking that vehicle is prohibited as double overtaking." → False. Double overtaking applies when the vehicle ahead is overtaking a motor vehicle.
• "A steep uphill slope is a place where overtaking is prohibited." → False. Only near the top of an uphill slope and on steep downhill slopes.

How not to mix them up

When a statement mentions 追い抜き (passing), first check the location: is it a pedestrian or bicycle crossing or within 30 m before one? If it is anywhere else and the statement says passing is also banned, it is most likely False.

Rules for the car being overtaken also appear: do not speed up until the overtaking is finished, and if there is not enough room, keep as far left as possible to make way (left, not right).

Practice in English

Since October 2025 the knowledge test is 50 True/False questions and you need 45 correct. menkyopass's conversion drill lets you practice overtaking questions with English explanations (first mock exam and 3 topics free; full access ¥1,500 one-time).

Practice questions using this term

• Where this sign is posted, you may overtake as long as you do not cross into the right half of the road.
• You must not overtake or pass a vehicle that is displaying the elderly driver mark.
• Overtaking means changing course and moving ahead of a moving vehicle in front of you.
• At a pedestrian crossing and within 30 meters before it, not only overtaking but also passing is prohibited.
• At an intersection and within 30 meters before it, you must not overtake, even when you are driving on a priority road.
• Overtaking is prohibited at a railroad crossing and within 30 meters before it.
• Near a bend in the road, you may overtake only when you have a clear view.
• A steep uphill slope is a place where overtaking is prohibited.
• Inside a tunnel, overtaking is prohibited whether or not there are vehicle traffic lanes.
• When the vehicle ahead is trying to overtake a motorized bicycle (moped), overtaking that vehicle is prohibited as double overtaking.

FAQ

Related guides

• Overtaking Rules in Japan: No-Overtaking Zones and Passing
• Right of Way in Japan: Intersections, Pedestrians, Emergencies
• Japanese Road Signs: Common Mistakes in the Conversion Test
• Japan Expressway Rules: Max 100, Min 50 km/h, Who Can't Enter
• 徐行 vs 一時停止: Slow Down vs Full Stop in Japan's Test

Sources (in Japanese)

• e-Gov法令検索「道路交通法」（第2条第1項第21号・第18条・第28条・第29条・第30条・第38条第3項・第53条・第71条第5号の4）
• e-Gov法令検索「道路交通法施行令」（第21条 合図の時期）
• 警察庁「交通の方法に関する教則」（令和6年11月13日現在・全文PDF）