Driving in Algeria vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Algeria and Japan, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that affect their experience. Notably, Algeria drives on the right while Japan drives on the left, and speed limits vary significantly in urban and rural areas. Understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure journey across these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Algeria | 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 | Prohibited except on one-way roads. | 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 | Not applicable | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
algeria:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
algeria:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
algeria:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
algeria:
Prohibited except on one-way roads.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
algeria:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
algeria:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
algeria:
No
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
algeria:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 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 | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
algeria:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
algeria:
50 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
algeria:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
algeria:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
algeria:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
algeria:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Usually triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
algeria:
Not typically used
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
algeria:
Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
algeria:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
algeria:
Usually triangular with red borders
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
algeria:
Usually not allowed unless indicated
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
algeria:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
algeria:
Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
algeria:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
algeria:
Recommended
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
algeria:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
algeria:
More frequent use than in some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Pedestrians Priority
algeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
algeria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Checkpoints used especially on holidays | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
algeria:
0.02%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
algeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
algeria:
Checkpoints used especially on holidays
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
algeria:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 1548 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or auto club | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
algeria:
1548
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
algeria:
17
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
algeria:
Contact insurance provider or auto club
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Algeria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Heavy fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed for non-compliance | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed for non-compliance | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed, may include points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; also through post or bank | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid promptly | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
algeria:
Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
algeria:
Heavy fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
algeria:
Fines imposed, may include points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
algeria:
Possible; also through post or bank
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
algeria:
Varies; typically must be paid promptly
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days