Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam formatWhat does 車道 (shadō) mean? Roadway vs sidewalk and main lane
Updated: 2026-10
車道 (しゃどう, shadō) is the part of a road set aside for vehicles, separated by curbs, fences or road markings (Road Traffic Act (道路交通法) Art. 2(1)(iii)). On roads where sidewalks or side strips are separated from the roadway, vehicles (車両) must use the 車道 (Art. 17(1)) and keep to the part left of the center. When crossing a sidewalk, you must stop just before it.
Legal definition and similar terms
Article 2(1)(iii) defines 車道 as 'a part of the road separated by curbs, fences or similar structures, or by road markings, for the passage of vehicles'.
Spelling and reading: 車道 (しゃどう / shadō). A vehicle traffic lane (車両通行帯, しゃりょうつうこうたい) is an individual lane within the 車道 — a different term.
| Term | Meaning | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 車道 (roadway) | Part separated for vehicles by curbs/fences or road markings | Art. 2(1)(iii) |
| 歩道 (sidewalk) | Part separated for pedestrians by curbs, fences, etc. | Art. 2(1)(ii) |
| 路側帯 (side strip) | Strip at the edge of a road without a sidewalk (or on the side without one), marked by road markings | Art. 2(1)(iii-4) |
| 自転車道 (cycle track) | Part of the 車道 separated for bicycles by curbs or fences | Art. 2(1)(iii-3) |
| 本線車道 (main lane) | The 車道 made up of the main lanes of national expressways and motor-vehicle-only roads | Art. 2(1)(iii-2) |
Vehicles must use the 車道 (Art. 17(1)–(2))
On roads where sidewalks or side strips (together 歩道等) are separated from the 車道, vehicles must travel on the 車道. Bicycles are vehicles too, so their default is also the roadway (教則 Ch. 3).
The exception is when you unavoidably cross a sidewalk to enter or leave a parking lot, shop or other place off the road. In that case you must stop just before entering the 歩道等 and not obstruct pedestrians (Art. 17(2)). The test checks that this is a full stop, not just slowing down.
Where on the 車道 (left part, keep left)
Vehicles travel on the part left of the center of the road (on roads with sidewalks, the center of the 車道) (Art. 17(4)). If there is a center line, that line is the center.
On roads without traffic lanes, motor vehicles and general mopeds keep to the left, while specified small mopeds and light vehicles keep to the left edge (Art. 18(1)). On roads without sidewalks or side strips, you must not drive onto the shoulder (路肩, the 0.5 m from the road edge) (教則 Ch. 5 Sec. 2).
Likewise, on roads with sidewalks, an intersection is the area where the roadways (車道) meet (Art. 2(1)(v)).
- You may move into the right-hand part (Art. 17(5)): on a one-way road
- When the left part is not wide enough
- When the left part cannot be used because of road damage, roadworks, etc.
- When overtaking on a road whose left part is under 6 m wide with a clear view (unless signs prohibit it)
- Near a steep curve where signs specify how to pass
How it is tested and the traps
Most questions containing 車道 are about the expressway main lane (本線車道). Example: 'On an expressway main lane, you must not make U-turns, reverse or cross the central reservation' → True. 'When merging into the main lane, the merging vehicle has priority' → False (vehicles on the main lane have priority).
On ordinary roads, watch for wording like 'when crossing a sidewalk to enter a property, slowing down is enough'. The correct answer is a full stop just before the 歩道等.
There are only five cases where you may move to the right; 'you may always cross to the right to overtake' is false (conditions apply, such as a left part under 6 m and a clear view).
Practise in your own language
Since October 2025, the knowledge test is 50 true/false questions in 30 minutes, and you need 45 correct. Telling the roadway, sidewalk and side strip apart underlies questions on lanes, parking and expressways. menkyopass explains each question in English (first mock test and 3 topics free).
Practice questions using this term
- On the main lanes of a national expressway, the statutory minimum speed for standard motor vehicles (regular cars) is 50 km/h.
- On the main lanes of an expressway, you must not stop or park even in unavoidable situations such as a breakdown.
- On the main lanes of a national expressway, the statutory maximum speed for light motor vehicles (kei cars) is 80 km/h.
- On the main lanes of a national expressway, the statutory maximum speed for large trucks is 90 km/h.
- When merging onto the main lanes of an expressway, the merging vehicle has priority, so vehicles on the main lanes must slow down and give way.
- On the main lanes of an expressway, you must not make a U-turn, reverse, or cross the median strip.
FAQ
Q. Is an area separated only by a white line also a 車道?
A. Yes. A 車道 can be separated by road markings as well as curbs or fences (Art. 2(1)(iii)). If the area outside the white line is a side strip, the inside is the 車道.
Q. Is slowing down enough when a car crosses a sidewalk?
A. No. You must stop just before entering the 歩道等 and not obstruct pedestrians (Art. 17(2)).
Q. Do bicycles ride on the roadway?
A. Bicycles are vehicles, so on roads with sidewalks the roadway is the default. Standard bicycles may use the sidewalk only in limited cases, such as where signs allow it.
Q. Is 本線車道 different from 車道?
A. 本線車道 is the 車道 formed by the main lanes of national expressways or motor-vehicle-only roads; it does not include acceleration or deceleration lanes.