[RickOShay]

I do not have a license, as I have never really needed one. But the people I know who have them, most had quite a lot of trouble trying to pass. I heard there were a lot of seemingly silly rules, like checking under the car before you go in etc. I suppose it could be different from prefecture to prefecture though. The impression I got is it is a lot of just going through the motions (like a lot of stuff in this country), and does not really test a driver's skill.

As far as some of the rules being talked about I would be surprised if cars were not suppose to wait for bicycles to pass through the intersection first when taking left turns, I was pretty sure I had the right of way in those situations. Either way, I am always cautious though because people more often than not are not paying any attention.

I know I have the right of way at crosswalks with no lights, because a friend of mine said she got a ticket once for not stopping at a non-traffic light crosswalk while a pedestrian was waiting.