In Japan, drivers use specific stickers to indicate certain situations. Some of these stickers are mandatory and serve to indicate whether a person is a new driver, disabled, elderly, etc.
These stickers are usually placed on the front and back of cars. In this article, we will go into detail and learn a little more about these stickers. The channel Japan nosso de cada dia made a video talking a bit about these stickers, you can watch it below:
Table of Contents
Sticker for beginner drivers
In Japan, when you get your driver’s license, it is mandatory to use this green and yellow plate for 1 year, to show that the person is a new driver. This way, other drivers give a little more space and have a bit of patience with the novice.
The official name of this label is shoshinuntenshahyoushiki [初心運転者標識] which literally means “new driver mark”. This mark is also known as wakaba māku [若葉マーク] which literally means “Green Leaf Mark” and is even written with the kanji “若” which means young, indicating that you are still inexperienced in traffic.
The interesting thing is that some people, even after 1 year, prefer to leave the sticker on the car to gain more advantages in traffic. Some make jokes, sticking several stickers in various positions.
Others use this sticker even on other vehicles like bicycles, some objects, I have even seen it on horses. Wakaba has become a universal symbol for beginners.
The penalty for not having the sticker is 4,000 yen and one point on the license. Additionally, when driving and seeing a car with this sticker, it is prohibited to overtake under penalty of a fine of 5,000 to 7,000 yen and one point on the license.
Sticker for Elderly People
People over 70 years old are encouraged to use a sticker called Kōreiuntenshahyōshiki [高齢運転者標識] which literally means “elderly driver mark”. The sticker is also called momiji.
As the years go by, with old age, people become a bit clumsy in traffic, this sticker serves to indicate to other drivers to be a little more careful and patient with the elderly.
Moreover, this sticker has other benefits, such as reserved parking for the elderly. Just as the Japanese call the beginner sticker the green leaf, the elderly sticker has gained several names such as: Autumn leaves, dry leaves, or falling leaves.
This sticker received a new version in 2011 with the appearance of a four-leaf clover. Previously, it resembled the beginner sticker, being a drop with orange and yellow colors.
Sticker for people with physical disabilities
Japan accepts the universal symbol for disabilities, that drawing of a wheelchair. But Japan also has an original symbol, a blue sticker with a white heart-shaped clover, with an umbrella stem.
Its name is 身体障害者標識 (shintaishōgaishahyōshiki) and literally means “label for the disabled” and covers a broader area than the universal wheelchair symbol.
The penalty for not having the sticker is 4,000 yen and one point on the license. Additionally, when driving and seeing a car with this sticker, it is prohibited to overtake under penalty of a fine of 5,000 to 7,000 yen and one point on the license.
Sticker for people with hearing impairments
Besides the general disability label, Japan has a unique one for hearing-impaired individuals. A green label with a yellow butterfly. It is known as chōkaku shōgai-sha hyōshiki [聴覚障害者標識] which literally means “label for hearing-impaired individuals”.
Why the butterfly symbol? In Japanese, the word for butterfly is pronounced “cho” just like the word for hearing (Chōkaku) or the word for hearing-impaired (Chōkakushō).
There is no penalty for not having this sticker. If a car overtakes another with this sticker, it can incur a fine of 5,000 to 7,000 yen and one point on the license.
Training Sticker – Renshuuchuu
A white sticker full of Japanese words with a yellow strip resembling a sign serves to indicate that someone is training to drive in traffic. This helps drivers to be more patient, it is not a mandatory sign.
This article shows how much Japan cares about the safety of drivers. I hope you enjoyed the article, share it so people can learn about this safety tactic.
If you live in Japan, these plates or stickers can be found even in 100 yen stores. Some are made to be placed inside the car, it might be better to find the adhesive ones on some online site or specialty store.
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