Driving in Armenia vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique aspects of driving in Armenia and Japan! This comparison highlights vital distinctions, from lane usage and speed limits to traffic regulations and alcohol limits. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe journey abroad, whether navigating Armenia's right-side driving or Japan's left-side rules. Stay informed, stay safe!
Lanes
| Armenia | 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 'BUS'; often with road signs. | 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
armenia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
armenia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
armenia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
armenia:
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
armenia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
armenia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
armenia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
armenia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
armenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
armenia:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
armenia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
armenia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 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 | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
armenia:
40-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
armenia:
20 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
armenia:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
armenia:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
armenia:
70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
armenia:
110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
armenia:
90 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
armenia:
90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
armenia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
armenia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
armenia:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Armenia | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Armenian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
armenia:
Not used in Armenia
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
armenia:
Unnecessary use discouraged
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
armenia:
Armenian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
armenia:
Triangular-shaped with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
armenia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
armenia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | 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
armenia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
armenia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
armenia:
Annual inspection required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
armenia:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
armenia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
armenia:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal 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 and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
armenia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
armenia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
armenia:
Pull over and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| 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
armenia:
0.04%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
armenia:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
armenia:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
armenia:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
armenia:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 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
armenia:
911
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
armenia:
104
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
armenia:
Check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
armenia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
armenia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Armenia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
armenia:
Varies; fines and points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
armenia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
armenia:
Varies; fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
armenia:
Fines applied
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
armenia:
Fines applied, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
armenia:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
armenia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days