Driving in Azerbaijan vs Japan: Key Differences Uncovered
When comparing the road regulations of Azerbaijan and Japan, key distinctions emerge that can significantly impact driving experiences. From driving orientations to speed limits and traffic protocols, these variations are crucial for travelers. Understanding these contrasts not only enhances road safety but ensures a smoother journey in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the center on undivided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | In some cases, such as if 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 primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Often designated for buses and public transport. | N/A |
Driving Side
azerbaijan:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
azerbaijan:
Marks the center on undivided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
azerbaijan:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
azerbaijan:
In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
azerbaijan:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
N/A
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
japan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
azerbaijan:
Often designated for buses and public transport.
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Azerbaijan | 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 | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common practice; fines can also be mailed. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
azerbaijan:
40-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
azerbaijan:
20 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
azerbaijan:
Common practice; fines can also be mailed.
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Azerbaijan | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Azerbaijani; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
azerbaijan:
Not used in Azerbaijan
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
azerbaijan:
Azerbaijani; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
azerbaijan:
Triangle-shaped with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
azerbaijan:
Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown
japan:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Annual technical inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided upon successful inspection | 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
azerbaijan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
azerbaijan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
azerbaijan:
Annual technical inspection required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
azerbaijan:
Provided upon successful inspection
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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
azerbaijan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
azerbaijan:
Moderate use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
azerbaijan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional; fines and penalties apply | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
azerbaijan:
Occasional; fines and penalties apply
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
azerbaijan:
Can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 102 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or local service | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
azerbaijan:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
azerbaijan:
102
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
azerbaijan:
Call your insurance provider or local service
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Azerbaijan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Significant fines | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Significant fines, possible license points | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
azerbaijan:
Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
azerbaijan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
azerbaijan:
Significant fines
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, possible license points
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
azerbaijan:
Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
azerbaijan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days