(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of the law is to prescribe the matters concerning designation, authorization, administration, structure, maintenance and division of the related costs etc. concerning roads in order to consolidate road networks, and thereby contributing to the development of traffic and the promotion of public welfare.
(2) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
Definitions of roads, occupation and uses of roads, regulations concerning road management for arrangements, exclusive utilization of road and road maintenance and regulations concerning road-related expenses and public burden are prescribed.
(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTERIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Ordinances of the Road Law
Enforcement Regulations of the Road Law
Cabinet Order on Vehicle Restriction
Ministerial Ordinance of the Establishment of the Procedures for Granting Permission for Vehicle Traffic
(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered
Vehicles
2) Outline of Specifications, Standards and Inspections, etc.
i. Traffic Control of vehicle
The Cabinet order prescribes the limits permitted for traffic on the roads, regulating width, weight, height, length and minimum turning radius of vehicles, and prohibits those vehicles exceeding the limits from traveling the roads in order to maintain the structure of roads and to prevent danger to traffic (Article 47).
Nevertheless, it also prescribes that those responsible for the road administrator may permit vehicles exceeding such limits to travel the road despite the aforesaid prescription, when they deem it inevitable due to the specific character of the vehicle's construction or materials loaded on them. They are also prescribed to impose conditions to be required for the maintenance of the structure of the roads and prevention of danger to traffic (Article 47-2).
ii. Maximum Vehicle Width
(a) Size
Width......2.5m
Height......3.8m (4.1m. for vehicles on designated roads )
Length......12m (16.5m. for semi-trailers connected vehicle or 18.0m for full-trailers connected vehicle on national expressway, loaded materials which do not protrude from the trailer either in front or behind)
(b) Weight
Adjoining Axle Weight......maximum 20t depending on the wheel base
Axle Weight......10t
Wheel load...... 5t
Gross weight......Depending on wheel base and length of vehicles, maximum 25t on national expressway and designated roads or 20t on other roads, (of semi-trailers connected vehicles and full-trailer connected vehicles, maximum 36t depending on the wheel base (the distance between the front and back axles) on national expressway and maximum 27t on other roads concerning specific vehicle type (van type, for containers, tank type, hood type and for transporting automobiles)
(c) Minimum Turning Radius......12.0m
iii. Procedure for right-of-way permit for special motor vehicle
Anyone intending to travel vehicles exceeding the said limits must apply to a road administrator for traffic permission.
In cases where the route to be followed involves two or more roads for which road administrators are different, the applicant only files his application with a road administrator other than it for municipal roads. However, this rule does not apply if the said route consists only of municipal roads. (Article 47-2).
Upon receiving the application, the road administrator must examine technically the following and may grant permission for traffic, and may impose conditions if necessary:
(a) Whether or not it is inevitable to grant permission for traffic due to the specific character of the structure of vehicles or freight on them;
(b) Whether or not it is possible for vehicles of that weight or size to travel, considering the road situation on the route intended to be used.
(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT
1) Raise in the maximum length and gross weight depending on the wheel base of vehicles on national expressway and designated roads by a road administrator to 25t (November 1993)
2) Raise in the maximum height of vehicles allowed on roads designated by road administrators and prefectural public safety commissions to 4.1m (February, 2004)
3)Change in the service fee for permit for special motor vehicle taking actual cost into consideration (December, 2004)
(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
Road Traffic Control Division, Road Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Tel: 03-5253-8111 (Ext. 37425) http://www.mlit.go.jp