Driving in Austria vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Austria and Japan, it's essential to understand their distinct driving regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides—right in Austria and left in Japan—alongside varying speed limits and road etiquette. This guide ensures you remain informed and safe while exploring these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
austria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Austria | 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 to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
austria:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
austria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, 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 | Fines apply | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days