Hug the Corner

Having learned to drive in a country where the traffic rules, for the most part, must be obeyed was a major advantage for the Japanese license conversion test.  There was, however, one rule that was completely new to me even after having driven in Japan for one year on my international license.  The rule is "Hug the Corner" and it goes along with "Bike Check."  The basic issue is that when stopped at an intersection waiting to make a left turn (think of right turn if you drive on the right side of the road) motorcycles and mopeds will try to pass you on the left.  The countermeasure is not to stop the bikes for this dangerous practice, but to instead train drivers to "Hug the Corner."  This means that once you put your left turn signal on the next step to to look over your left shoulder for bikes and then position your left tires on the white line making giving bikes no space to pass on that side.  During the driving test the examiners expect that you continue to keep the left tires on the white line (without hitting the curb, which is an automatic failure) for the entirety of the turn. This practice doesn't come naturally for me yet, but I have a year to practice.