Driving in Albania vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
The driving experience in Albania and Japan reveals intriguing contrasts that are vital for ensuring safety on the roads. While Albania drives on the right, Japan adheres to the left. Additionally, speed limits differ significantly, with Japan enforcing stricter regulations and advanced signage. Understanding these key distinctions can enhance your journey and promote safer travel abroad.
Lanes
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
albania:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
albania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
albania:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
albania:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
albania:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
albania:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
albania:
Check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
albania:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days