Driving in Argentina vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in Argentina and Japan. From lane usage and speed restrictions to alcohol limits and road etiquette, each nation presents unique regulations that influence vehicular travel. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad. Dive in to learn how to navigate safely in both countries.
Lanes
| Argentina | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
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
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Mandatory; proof required |
| 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | 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
argentina:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | 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 apply | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days