Driving in Bahrain vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Bahrain and Japan presents unique distinctions that are crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. From the contrasting sides of the road to variable speed limits and overtaking rules, understanding these nuances is essential for a seamless experience. Explore our comparison to navigate the roads confidently and securely in either country.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | 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: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | 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
bahrain:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
japan:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
japan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
japan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
japan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn 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
bahrain:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
japan:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days