# 道路交通法 / Road Traffic Act — 第十七条 (Article 17)

- Law: 道路交通法 (Road Traffic Act), 昭和三十五年法律第百五号
- English title "Road Traffic Act": Ministry of Justice translation
- Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say.
- Provision: 第十七条 (Article 17)（通行区分） — address `art-17`
- Text in force since: 2026-07-21
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17
- Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17
- Every provision below carries its address and both URLs on the line under it.
- Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below.

Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text
below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and
says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this
site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names.
They are never merged and never substituted for one another.

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### 第十七条（通行区分） — (Traffic Distribution)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17</sup>

  **第一項**  車両は、歩道又は路側帯（以下この条及び次条第一項において「歩道等」という。）と車道の区別のある道路においては、車道を通行しなければならない。ただし、道路外の施設又は場所に出入するためやむを得ない場合において歩道等を横断するとき、又は第四十七条第三項若しくは第四十八条の規定により歩道等で停車し、若しくは駐車するため必要な限度において歩道等を通行するときは、この限りでない。
  <sup>art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-1</sup>
  On a road with demarcations between a sidewalk or a side strip (hereinafter referred to in this Article and paragraph (1) of the following Article as a "sidewalk or side strip") and the roadway, a vehicle must proceed along the roadway; provided, however, that this does not apply if circumstances compel the driver to cross the sidewalk or side strip in order to enter or leave a facility or place outside the road, or when the vehicle passes through the sidewalk or side strip to the extent necessary for the driver to stop or park on the sidewalk or side strip pursuant to Article 47, paragraph (3) or Article 48.
  <sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

  **第二項**  前項ただし書の場合において、車両は、歩道等に入る直前で一時停止し、かつ、歩行者の通行を妨げないようにしなければならない。
  <sup>art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-2</sup>
  In a case as referred to in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, the vehicle must come to a stop immediately before entering the sidewalk or side strip and must not prevent pedestrians from proceeding.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第三項**  特定小型原動機付自転車（原動機付自転車のうち第二条第一項第十号ロに該当するものをいう。以下同じ。）、二輪又は三輪の自転車その他車体の大きさ及び構造が自転車道における他の車両の通行を妨げるおそれのないものとして内閣府令で定める基準に該当する車両（これらの車両で側車付きのもの及び他の車両を牽引しているものを除く。）以外の車両は、自転車道を通行してはならない。ただし、道路外の施設又は場所に出入するためやむを得ないときは、自転車道を横断することができる。
  <sup>art-17/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-3</sup>
  A vehicle other than a specified small motorized bicycle (meaning a motorized bicycle that falls under Article 2, paragraph (1), item (x), (b); the same applies hereinafter), a two-wheeled or three-wheeled bicycle, or any other vehicle that satisfies the criteria that Cabinet Office Order prescribes as being of a body size and structure not likely to hinder other vehicles from proceeding on a bicycle path (this excludes such vehicles with a sidecar and those that are towing other vehicles) must not enter onto a bicycle path; provided, however, that a vehicle may cut across a bicycle path if circumstances compel the driver to do so in order to enter or leave a facility or place outside the road.
  <sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

  **第四項**  車両は、道路（歩道等と車道の区別のある道路においては、車道。以下第九節の二までにおいて同じ。）の中央（軌道が道路の側端に寄つて設けられている場合においては当該道路の軌道敷を除いた部分の中央とし、道路標識等による中央線が設けられているときはその中央線の設けられた道路の部分を中央とする。以下同じ。）から左の部分（以下「左側部分」という。）を通行しなければならない。
  <sup>art-17/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-4</sup>
  A vehicle must proceed along the part of the road (or the part of the roadway, if the road with demarcations between the sidewalk or side strip and the roadway; the same applies hereinafter through Section 9-2) to the left of the center (if a railway track runs along the side edge of a road, this means the center of the part of the road that does not include the track bed, and if a center line is indicated by road signs or markings, the center of the road is the part of the road that is indicated to be the center line; the same applies hereinafter) (hereinafter, the part of the road to the left of the center is referred to as the "left side" of the road).
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第五項**  車両は、次の各号に掲げる場合においては、前項の規定にかかわらず、道路の中央から右の部分（以下「右側部分」という。）にその全部又は一部をはみ出して通行することができる。この場合において、車両は、第一号に掲げる場合を除き、そのはみ出し方ができるだけ少なくなるようにしなければならない。
  <sup>art-17/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5</sup>
  Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a vehicle may stray fully or partially onto the part of the road to the right side of the center (hereinafter referred to as the "right side" of the road) in the cases set forth in the following items. In such a case, the driver of the vehicle must ensure that as little of the vehicle as possible strays onto the right side, except in the case set forth in item (i):
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **一**  当該道路が一方通行（道路における車両の通行につき一定の方向にする通行が禁止されていることをいう。以下同じ。）となつているとき。
    <sup>art-17/par-5/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5/item-1</sup>
    if the road is a one-way street (meaning that vehicles on the road are prohibited from proceeding in a given direction; the same applies hereinafter);
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **二**  当該道路の左側部分の幅員が当該車両の通行のため十分なものでないとき。
    <sup>art-17/par-5/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5/item-2</sup>
    if the width of the left side of the road is insufficient to allow the vehicle to proceed;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **三**  当該車両が道路の損壊、道路工事その他の障害のため当該道路の左側部分を通行することができないとき。
    <sup>art-17/par-5/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5/item-3</sup>
    if it is impossible for the vehicle to proceed on the left side of the road due to an obstruction such as road damage or road work;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **四**  当該道路の左側部分の幅員が六メートルに満たない道路において、他の車両を追い越そうとするとき（当該道路の右側部分を見とおすことができ、かつ、反対の方向からの交通を妨げるおそれがない場合に限るものとし、道路標識等により追越しのため右側部分にはみ出して通行することが禁止されている場合を除く。）。
    <sup>art-17/par-5/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5/item-4</sup>
    if the driver of the vehicle is attempting to pass another vehicle on the left side of a road less than six meters wide (but only if the driver of the passing vehicle has a clear view of the right side of the road and there is no likelihood of obstructing traffic coming from the other direction; this excludes cases in which the vehicle is prohibited by road signs or markings from straying fully or partially onto the right side of the road);
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **五**  勾配の急な道路のまがりかど附近について、道路標識等により通行の方法が指定されている場合において、当該車両が当該指定に従い通行するとき。
    <sup>art-17/par-5/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5/item-5</sup>
    if traffic rules are specified by road signs or markings near a curve on a steeply sloping road, and the vehicle is proceeding down the road in compliance with what is specified.
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第六項**  車両は、安全地帯又は道路標識等により車両の通行の用に供しない部分であることが表示されているその他の道路の部分に入つてはならない。
  <sup>art-17/par-6 · https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-6 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-6</sup>
  It is prohibited for a vehicle to enter a safety zone or any other part of the road that road signs or markings indicate is not being made available for vehicle traffic.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

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## Cites
- art-17/par-1: この条 → 道路交通法 第十七条 (Article 17), art-17 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17
- art-17/par-1: 次条第一項 → 道路交通法 第十七条の二第一項 (Article 17-2, paragraph (1)), art-17-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17-2/par-1
- art-17/par-1: 第四十七条第三項 → 道路交通法 第四十七条第三項 (Article 47, paragraph (3)), art-47/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-47/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-47/par-3
- art-17/par-1: 第四十八条 → 道路交通法 第四十八条 (Article 48), art-48 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-48 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-48
- art-17/par-2: 前項 → 道路交通法 第十七条第一項 (Article 17, paragraph (1)), art-17/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-1
- art-17/par-3: 第二条第一項第十号 → 道路交通法 第二条第一項第十号 (Article 2, paragraph (1), item (x)), art-2/par-1/item-10 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-2/par-1/item-10 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-2/par-1/item-10
- art-17/par-5: 前項 → 道路交通法 第十七条第四項 (Article 17, paragraph (4)), art-17/par-4 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-4
- art-17/par-5: 第一号 → 道路交通法 第十七条第五項第一号 (Article 17, paragraph (5), item (i)), art-17/par-5/item-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5/item-1

## Cited by

16 provisions cite this one. No official source publishes this direction.

- 道路交通法 第十七条第一項（通行区分） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-1
- 道路交通法 第十七条第二項（通行区分） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-2
- 道路交通法 第十七条第五項（通行区分） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17/par-5
- 道路交通法 第十七条の二第一項（特例特定小型原動機付自転車の歩道通行） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17-2/par-1
- 道路交通法 第十七条の三第一項（特例特定小型原動機付自転車等の路側帯通行） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-17-3/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-17-3/par-1
- 道路交通法 第三十九条第一項（緊急自動車の通行区分等） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-39/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-39/par-1
- 道路交通法 第四十一条第一項（緊急自動車等の特例） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-41/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-41/par-1
- 道路交通法 第四十一条第四項（緊急自動車等の特例） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-41/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-41/par-4
- 道路交通法 第四十一条の二第四項（消防用車両の優先等） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-41-2/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-41-2/par-4
- 道路交通法 第六十三条の四第一項（普通自転車の歩道通行） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-63-4/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-63-4/par-1
- 道路交通法 第六十三条の七第一項（交差点における自転車の通行方法） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-63-7/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-63-7/par-1
- 道路交通法 第七十五条の三第一項（危険防止等の措置） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-75-3/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-75-3/par-1
- 道路交通法 第百十条の二第三項（特定の交通の規制等の手続） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-110-2/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-110-2/par-3
- 道路交通法 第百十条の二第四項（特定の交通の規制等の手続） — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-110-2/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-110-2/par-4
- 道路交通法 第百十七条の二の二第一項第八号イ — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-117-2-2/par-1/item-8/sub-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-117-2-2/par-1/item-8/sub-1
- 道路交通法 第百十九条第一項第六号 — https://japanlaw.org/en/road-traffic-act/art-119/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/l/335AC0000000105/art-119/par-1/item-6

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## Sources

- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 道路交通法 — the text in force from 2026-07-21 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/335AC0000000105/20260721_508AC0000000052), retrieved 2026-10-13
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Road Traffic Act — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/2962/tb), retrieved 2026-10-13
- claude-sonnet-5-5 — Machine translation, batch road-traffic-act-20261013T074321-003, translated 2026-10-13
- This site's parser, version 190 — 道路交通法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-13