Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding Chapters, the rules for motor vehicle traffic over national expressways and limited highways and other such considerations are governed by this Chapter.

Notwithstanding Article 17, paragraph (1) and Cabinet Order under Article 47, paragraph (4) of the Road Act, on finding a compelling reason to do so in order to prevent a road hazard or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic on a national expressway or limited highway (hereinafter referred to as a "national expressway or limited highway") on which road damage, a traffic accident, or other circumstances are likely to cause a traffic hazard or traffic congestion, a police officer may prohibit or restrict road use by motor vehicles arriving at the scene or order the drivers of motor vehicles at the scene to travel on the shoulder or a side strip of the road or to comply with different traffic rules than the traffic rules for motor vehicles that are prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 8, Chapter III, Section 1, and Section 6 or this Chapter, but only so far as is necessary.

On the main roadway of a national expressway (other than one that Cabinet Order prescribes), it is prohibited for a motor vehicle to travel at a speed below the posted minimum speed limit in a section of road where this is designated by road signs or markings or to travel at a speed below the minimum speed limit that Cabinet Order prescribes in any other section of road, unless the driver is decreasing the speed of the motor vehicle pursuant to laws and regulations or is compelled to drive below the minimum speed limit in order to prevent a hazard.

A motor vehicle must not cross over to the other side of a road, make a U-turn, or reverse direction on any main roadway.

①A motor vehicle (other than an emergency motor vehicle) attempting to enter a main roadway (if attempting to enter a main roadway from another main roadway, this is limited to when the main roadway that the motor vehicle is attempting to enter is designated by road signs or markings) must not obstruct the progress of any other motor vehicle proceeding down the main roadway; provided, however that this does not apply if traffic controls are in place at the intersection.

②A motor vehicle other than an emergency motor vehicle must not prevent an emergency motor vehicle that is attempting to enter a main roadway or exit a main roadway on which it is traveling from proceeding.

①A motor vehicle attempting to enter a main roadway with an acceleration lane must use the acceleration lane.

②A motor vehicle attempting to exit a main roadway on which it is traveling must travel in the vehicle traffic lane connected to the exit before exiting the main roadway. In such a case, if the main roadway has a deceleration lane, the motor vehicle must use the deceleration lane.

①A motor vehicle (including a vehicle with the necessary structure and equipment to allow them to be towed by a motor vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must not be stopped or parked on a national expressway or limited highway unless the driver has come to a stop pursuant to laws and regulations, in compliance with a police officer's orders, or in order to prevent a hazard; provided, however, that this does not apply if:

②The provisions of Articles 50-2 through 51-2 apply mutatis mutandis where a motor vehicle is found to have been stopped or parked in violation of the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the phrase "another place on the road within 50 meters of the place where it is parked" in Article 51, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "a place that Cabinet Order prescribes"; the phrase "there is no place on the road to which it can be moved that is within 50 meters of where it is parked" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "it cannot be moved to the place that Cabinet Order prescribes which is referred to in the preceding paragraph"; and the phrase "a parking spot, open space, place on a road other than as prescribed in paragraph (3), or other such place" in paragraph (5) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "a place other than the place prescribed in paragraph (3)".

③A motor vehicle that is found to have been parked on a national expressway or limited highway in violation of paragraph (1) and which cannot be driven immediately because the driver has left the vicinity is deemed to be an abandoned vehicle as prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 51-4, and that Article applies.

①Article 20 does not apply to lanes for standard, mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, large, and special large motor vehicles with the structure and equipment for towing (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle equipped for towing") that are towing heavy towable vehicles, when the motor vehicle equipped for towing is traveling on the main roadway of a limited highway (but only one as prescribed in the following paragraph) or national expressway with vehicle traffic lanes. In such a case, the following paragraph through paragraph (4) applies

②On the main roadway of a limited highway with vehicle traffic lanes (but only on sections designated by road signs or markings), a motor vehicle equipped for towing as referred to in the preceding paragraph must travel in the far left-hand vehicle traffic lane.

③On the main roadway of a national expressway with vehicle traffic lanes, a motor vehicle equipped for towing as referred to in paragraph (1) must travel in the far left-hand vehicle traffic lane (or in the vehicle traffic lane that is designated by road signs or markings).

④It is permissible for a motor vehicle equipped for towing as referred to in paragraph (1) not to observe the preceding two paragraphs when passing a motor vehicle traveling at a speed below the minimum speed limit as prescribed in Article 23 or Article 75-4; when continuing to travel in the vehicle traffic lane in which it has been traveling pursuant to Article 26-2, paragraph (3); when temporarily yielding the right-of-way pursuant to Article 40, paragraph (2); or when road conditions or other circumstances compel this. In such a case, the motor vehicle equipped for towing must use the vehicle traffic lane to the immediate right of any motor vehicle it is passing in order to pass that motor vehicle.

①Article 75-5, Article 75-7, and the preceding Article do not apply to an emergency motor vehicle or to a motor vehicle engaged exclusively in traffic control that Cabinet Office Order prescribes which is referred to in Article 41, paragraph (3).

②Article 75-4, Article 75-5, and the preceding Article do not apply to a motor vehicle designed for road maintenance work when that motor vehicle is being employed in a work such as the maintenance or repair of a road pursuant to Cabinet Order.

Before driving a motor vehicle on a national expressway or limited highway, the driver must inspect the motor vehicle's amount of fuel, coolant, and motor oil and the condition of loaded cargo and, if necessary, take measures to prevent the motor vehicle from becoming undriveable due to a shortage of fuel, coolant, or motor oil, and to prevent loaded cargo from falling or scattering from the motor vehicle on the national expressway or limited highway

①If, due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, the driver of a motor vehicle has become unable to drive that motor vehicle on a main roadway or in an acceleration lane, deceleration lane, or climbing lane adjoining a main roadway (hereinafter referred to as the "main roadway or adjoining lane"), or on a shoulder or side strip adjoining a main roadway or adjoining lane, the driver must indicate that the motor vehicle is stopped due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

②If, due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, the driver of a motor vehicle has become unable to drive that motor vehicle on a main roadway or adjoining lane, the driver must promptly take the necessary measures to relocate the motor vehicle to a place other than the main roadway or adjoining lane.