Ayara
10-19-2005, 12:48 PM
Yesterday afternoon i fetched my 16 y.o. step daughter in the nearby eki station , on our way home in a narrow road my car side mirror accidentally hit the side mirror of a car on the opposite side I didn’t know what to do I wanted to stop but I thought it will cause traffic and my step daughter told me its okay so I continued driving thinking about what happened. I did stop in a drug store about 500 meter away from the place of the incident . . . suddenly I heard a knock and saw of a face:mad: of a Japanese woman. I quickly stepped out of the car and said “gomen nasai” but the woman said “your sorry can’t do nothing because it caused a scratch on my car” (I can’t remember her words in japanese) pointing a 3 inches black line in her side mirror. Then she called the police over the phone. This is my first time to be in this situation so I felt so helpless and stupid I didn’t know what to do:confused: . My s-daughter keep reminding me that its ok no one hurts so no need to worry. That time I did not brought my drivers license .This woman acted as I did a big crime (interviewing my s-daughter,writing my car plate #.etc.) When the police came we went to the place where the incident happened while the other policeman made an interview on my s-daughter coz I can’t understand some questions. After about an hour of this and that the policemen secretly had a conversation with me. They asked me if I have a japanese license, I said I have is a non-pro and an international license ,they said international license can only be use for one year and since I am two years staying here I should have a jap. license. We ended the matter by contacting our car insurance and we leave. So last night before sleeping after thinking about what happened I felt lucky:) because it was only a simple accident and policemen didn’t ask for a 30 lapad fine they only told me not to drive until I get a japanese license. I’m also thankful my step daughter assisted me and didn’t forsake me that time. Lastly I remember the woman’s reaction in the incident becoz if I was in her shoes just a simple gomen nasai can make me forgive someone (sore gurai) and pass my day like an ordinary day. But I know it was all my fault
Does anybody here had a similar situation?
v_wrangler
10-19-2005, 01:06 PM
Yesterday afternoon i fetched my 16 y.o. step daughter in the nearby eki station , on our way home in a narrow road my car side mirror accidentally hit the side mirror of a car on the opposite side I didn’t know what to do I wanted to stop but I thought it will cause traffic and my step daughter told me its okay so I continued driving thinking about what happened. I did stop in a drug store about 500 meter away from the place of the incident . . . suddenly I heard a knock and saw of a face:mad: of a Japanese woman. I quickly stepped out of the car and said “gomen nasai” but the woman said “your sorry can’t do nothing because it caused a scratch on my car” (I can’t remember her words in japanese) pointing a 3 inches black line in her side mirror. Then she called the police over the phone. This is my first time to be in this situation so I felt so helpless and stupid I didn’t know what to do:confused: . My s-daughter keep reminding me that its ok no one hurts so no need to worry. That time I did not brought my drivers license .This woman acted as I did a big crime (interviewing my s-daughter,writing my car plate #.etc.) When the police came we went to the place where the incident happened while the other policeman made an interview on my s-daughter coz I can’t understand some questions. After about an hour of this and that the policemen secretly had a conversation with me. They asked me if I have a japanese license, I said I have is a non-pro and an international license ,they said international license can only be use for one year and since I am two years staying here I should have a jap. license. We ended the matter by contacting our car insurance and we leave. So last night before sleeping after thinking about what happened I felt lucky:) because it was only a simple accident and policemen didn’t ask for a 30 lapad fine they only told me not to drive until I get a japanese license. I’m also thankful my step daughter assisted me and didn’t forsake me that time. Lastly I remember the woman’s reaction in the incident becoz if I was in her shoes just a simple gomen nasai can make me forgive someone (sore gurai) and pass my day like an ordinary day.
Does anybody here had a similar situation?
Ayara, you might be lucky but you are still at fault. Do not drive if you do not have a valid license. Kahit na hindi mo pa kasalanan, if you drive without a permit then you will still be the bad apple.
if I was in her shoes just a simple gomen nasai can make me forgive someone (sore gurai) and pass my day like an ordinary day.
and since you are not, the lady is within all her rights to confront you. In an accident such as this (it doesn’t matter if you think its a minor or major one) - the first thing expected of you is to get out of the car and see the extent of the damage or if anybody was hurt. 500 meters is quite a distance and may have given the impression that you are about to run away.
rodem
10-19-2005, 01:24 PM
Ayara, next time wag kang magddrive ng walang license… kahit hindi ikaw ang may kasalanan ikaw pa din ang talo in the end… 
Pinay
10-19-2005, 01:28 PM
If you damaged someones property, do not take it lightly no matter the extent; you should seek and let the owner know. If the owner is not around, you should leave a note and contact information and call a police, otherwise it is considered a ‘hit and run’. I’m not sure about the law in Japan, but in the U.S., a hit and run charge can be up to 6 months in jail and $1,000.00 fine.
CA Hit and Run law:
It is every person’s duty to exercise reasonable care when driving. Should a driver collide or even come into contact with any person or property of another, public policy mandates that the driver stop as soon as reasonably possible to either render assistance, or disclose required information. It is a crime to hit a vehicle and leave the scene of the accident without stopping and fulfilling several statutory duties. This duty arises even if the driver reasonably believes he is not at fault for the accident or that no harm could have resulted from the accident. This crime, commonly referred to as the hit-and-run, is complete upon the ‘running’ away from the scene.
California law provides that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident which results in property damage must immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest safe location. Cal Veh. Code § 20002 (2005). In addition, the offending driver must either: 1) inform the owner of the driver’s name, current address, and, if requested, driver’s license and vehicle registration; or 2) leave written notice in a “conspicuous place” on the property giving the name and address of the driver as well as notifying the police. Most commonly, the ‘property’ which is damaged is another vehicle.
Failure to comply with the statute is a misdemeanor and the offender could be punished up to six months and be fined up to $1,000. Cal. Veh. Code § 20002(c) (2005).
Ayara
10-19-2005, 01:29 PM
Ayara, you might be lucky but you are still at fault. Do not drive if you do not have a valid license. Kahit na hindi mo pa kasalanan, if you drive without a permit then you will still be the bad apple.
and since you are not, the lady is within all her rights to confront you. In an accident such as this (it doesn’t matter if you think its a minor or major one) - the first thing expected of you is to get out of the car and see the extent of the damage or if anybody was hurt. 500 meters is quite a distance and may have given the impression that you are about to run away.
I did not know that international license is only good for one year so I thought I have a valid one 'till yesterday. And I admit that it was my fault and I run away. I post this for the sake of the other who uses int’l license like me and not to do what I did. Maybe next time I post I should not include what I felt. Im sorry . . .:weep:
ning2
10-19-2005, 02:39 PM
I did not know that international license is only good for one year so I thought I have a valid one 'till yesterday. And I admit that it was my fault and I run away. I post this for the sake of the other who uses int’l license like me and not to do what I did. Maybe next time I post I should not include what I felt. Im sorry . . .:weep:
hello Ayara,
lately ko lang din nalaman na hindi na pwedeng gamitin ang international driving license after 1 year of staying dito sa japan. buti na lang at tinawagan ako minsan ng friend ko from osaka at ini-inform nya ako hindi na nga raw pwede ang IDL dito sa japan. ayaw ko pa ngang maniwala, kaya nagsearch ako sa internet at nakita ko yung bagong rules ng japan about driving using IDL. kaya agad kong inayos ang lahat ng kailangan para maipa-convert ko yung phil. drivers license ko. kaya eto nai-pa-convert ko na yung license ko sa japanese license:) mahirap na ngang mahulihan ng driving without license kahit sabihin mong hindi mo alam ang bagong rules na yan.buti na lang at hindi ka pala nag-penalty. lucky:D
st.colonel
10-19-2005, 04:59 PM
Hello Ayara! Mabuti na lang minor traffic accident lang ang nangyari what if said accident caused serious damage, injury or even death? What happened to you yesterday is a lesson to all us -Filipinos and all other foreigners here in Japan. I believe it is everyone’s obligation to know and abide Japanese Laws.
While it’s quite impossible to study all their Laws, it is essential to know those laws concerning our activities here.( e.g. driving) For our own sake, it is very important to study the Road Traffic Law before driving here in Japan particularly The Japanese Driver’s License System and Traffic Violation Notification system. “I didn’t know” is an unforgivable excuse.
It is therefore necessary to know the passenger limit, maximum load, and other requirements for different types of vehicles, and to know which vehicles can be driven on what types of licenses so that we do not end up driving a vehicle without a valid license.
We should be reminded always by the old legal maxim “Ignorance of the law excuses no one”.
pointblank
10-19-2005, 08:05 PM
Dear Ayara,
Hindi lang Japanese law ang nagbabawal ng paggamit ng International Driver’s license if you intend to stay for more than one year. Even other countries do not allow you to do it, since the International Driver’s License is intended only for temporary visitors.
Assuming that you are forgiven for not knowing about not being able to use your international license, you still have to answer for an even bigger offense: why were you not carrying your license on your person when you were driving the car?
Please note that the validity of an international driver’s license is only ONE year - whether you get it in the Philippines or in Japan. This has nothing to do with Japanese laws - it is written on your license!
Maybe next time I post I should not include what I felt. Im sorry . . .:weep:
Actually, it’s good that you included your feelings of remorse in your post. Otherwise, siguradong mas matindi pa ang mga sermon na inabot mo! 
adechan
10-19-2005, 08:41 PM
My elder sister ay nag karoon nang car accident more three years ago. Nabungo ang likuran nang sasakyan nya. It’s snowing that time and madulas ang kalsada, iyong nasa likod niya, hindi na-control ang break, diretso sa sasakyan niya, konting galos lang at bali sa kamay, though hindi na siya na hospital pero wasak ang likod nang sasakyan nya. Nahirapan siyang mag-claim sa insurance galing sa nakabangga, dahil nagkaroon siya nang hard time sa police investigation, i-kini-claim nang nakabangga na hindi honored ang international license. Cho mendoksai lalo na sa mga police.
Knowing this story, sige pa rin ako sa pag-da-drive with my international.
The second story is my partner in teaching english sa mga kouminkan. In one kouminkan na tinuturuan namin, konti lang ang car parking space. Minsan sa tabi lang nang kalsada kami nag-pa-parking. One day natiyempuhan siya nang pulis. Nataon naman na hindi ako nagsasakyan. Grabe po ang investigation. Illegal parking lang ang problema, pero she was treated like a criminal. Inimbistigahan mula sa bahay nila hanggang sa lugar nang pinag-parkingan, halos na anim na oras siya sa police station, pinagpasa pasahan pa siya sa investigation, kinuhanan din siya nang picture, front view, left view and right view, kinuha ang finger print niya left and right, at kung ilang mga papel din ang mga pinirmahan niya, pinagbayad siya nang tatlong lapad, at sinabihan din siyang magpalit na siya nang japanese license.
Mula noon po, nag decide na akong huwag munang mag-drive until I fixed my license to japanese license.
Eh ngayon, almost one year na po akong hindi nag-da drive:eek: . Dahil sa trabaho at kung mga ano-ano pa, ang hirap pumunta para mag-exam. Medyo malayo layo din nang konti sa lugar ko ang kuhanan nang license.
Pero mas maigi na rin po kesa, mahuli akong driving without license. Iyan ang kaso sa ma-certified na alam nang hindi na puwede sa married and international pero nag-da-drive pa rin. Even working visas with more than one year contract need japanese license. International licenses ay para lang daw po sa mga tourist visas.
Ingat na lang po tayong lahat.
Drive safe.
Ayara
10-19-2005, 10:03 PM
Dear Ayara,
Hindi lang Japanese law ang nagbabawal ng paggamit ng International Driver’s license if you intend to stay for more than one year. Even other countries do not allow you to do it, since the International Driver’s License is intended only for temporary visitors.
Assuming that you are forgiven for not knowing about not being able to use your international license, you still have to answer for an even bigger offense: why were you not carrying your license on your person when you were driving the car?
Please note that the validity of an international driver’s license is only ONE year - whether you get it in the Philippines or in Japan. This has nothing to do with Japanese laws - it is written on your license!
Actually, it’s good that you included your feelings of remorse in your post. Otherwise, siguradong mas matindi pa ang mga sermon na inabot mo!
You have a lot of knowledge I wish I have yours… thanx for reply.
nick
10-19-2005, 10:37 PM
Guys, let’s give Ayara a break. She hit a car, she admitted her fault and even shared her experience in a public forum so that others might learn from it.
Let’s give her support and encouragement while reminder her in a good way that she was at fault (which she already knew, by the way).
thread closed as requested by Ayara.
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