Driving in Australia vs Japan: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road rules is vital for a safe journey. This comparison between Australia and Japan reveals significant contrasts, such as speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations. By familiarizing yourself with these essential distinctions, you can enhance your driving experience and ensure greater safety on international roads.
Lanes
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
japan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | 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 |
Flashing Lights: Usage
australia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Alcohol
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
japan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days