[Q.] Is it a violation to run out of gas and stop on the highway?
[A.] If you are caught, you will receive 2 penalty points and the fine will be 7,000 yen for a motorcycle.
Unlike regular roads, there are no gas stations on expressways unless you go to a rest area such as a service area. Moreover, not all facilities have gas stations, so if you refuel at the wrong time, there is a high possibility that you will run out of gas. Furthermore, if you run out of gas and have to stop on the expressway, you could be rear-ended by a following vehicle, which is dangerous. Moreover, under the Road Traffic Act, this can be a traffic violation.
So why is it a traffic violation? The reason is Article 75-10 of the Road Traffic Act, which states “Matters to be Observed by Motor Vehicle Drivers.” This requires drivers to check the amount of fuel (gasoline, etc.), engine oil and coolant, and cargo loading status before driving on an expressway, to prevent running out of gas, engine breakdowns, or cargo falling while driving on the expressway.
If you run out of gas and have to stop on the expressway, you will be in violation of the “Expressway Driver Rules” and will be subject to the following penalties.
[Penalties for violation of driver compliance rules on expressways, etc. (for motorcycles)]
Fine: 7,000 yen
Penalty points: 2 points
By the way, just to be clear, the above violations apply not only to gasoline, but also to stopping without checking the remaining engine oil or coolant, or if any cargo has fallen off.
On expressways, it is a violation to stop without checking not only the amount of gasoline, but also the amount of engine oil and coolant remaining, or if any cargo has fallen off.
[Q.] Do motorcycles also need a “triangle stop sign” when making an emergency stop on a highway?
[A.] Hiding is a violation and will result in a fine of 6,000 yen and 1 violation point.
It is common for four-wheeled vehicles to have a “triangular stop sign” on them. This sign is installed to prevent rear-end collisions when a vehicle is forced to stop on the shoulder of a road while traveling on a highway due to an accident, breakdown, running out of gas, or other trouble.
So what about motorcycles, which have limited loading space? In fact, it is a legal obligation to display a triangular stop sign on the rear of the vehicle when making an emergency stop on a highway. If the sign is not installed, it will be considered a “violation of the obligation to display a broken-down vehicle,” and the penalties are as follows:
[Penalties for failure to display a broken-down vehicle (for motorcycles)]
Fine: 6,000 yen
Violation points: 1 point
The obligation to display the stop sign is only on expressways and motorways, so it is not required on ordinary roads. Also, there is no need to carry a stop sign with you at all times. It is only necessary in case of an emergency stop, so you only need to carry it when you plan to drive on the expressway, such as when touring.
However, the triangular stop signs for four-wheeled vehicles are large and difficult to load onto motorcycles. For this reason, some manufacturers have recently started selling compact types specifically for motorcycles, so it would be better to use one of those if possible.
The triangular stop sign has a reflective part in the shape of an upright triangle that reflects the light of headlights and shines even at night. On expressways, motorcycles are also required to display this sign when making an emergency stop.
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When you run out of gas on the highway and have to make an emergency stop, there are many other things to be careful about, such as avoiding being rear-ended by the vehicle behind you and making sure you don’t run out of gas in the first place. Also, if you do have to make an emergency stop, it’s a good idea to know what kind of triangular stop sign to use and how to set it up.
For more information on how to deal with problems on the expressway, please refer to the article linked below.
Running out of gas on the highway while touring is actually a violation. What to do and what to do if you suddenly stop | Motorcycle Laws | Motor-Fan is a media platform that mainly distributes automobile-related articlesRunning out of gas on the expressway is a violation of the Road Traffic Act! Unlike regular roads, there are no gas stations on the expressway unless you get to a rest area such as a service area. Furthermore, not all facilities have gas stations, so if you refuel at the wrong time, you could run out of gas.
Motorcycles also need stop triangles! If you don’t display them when making an emergency stop on the highway, it’s a violation. | Motor-Fan is a media platform that distributes automotive-related articles.What is a stop sign? A stop sign (triangular stop sign) is a sign that is installed to prevent rear-end collisions when a vehicle is forced to stop on the shoulder of a road while driving on a highway due to an accident, breakdown, running out of gas, or other trouble. Emergency stopping […]
