Driving Differences: Belgium vs Japan for Safe Travel
Exploring the road regulations in Belgium and Japan reveals striking contrasts that are essential for travelers. From the distinct driving sides and lane markings to varying speed limits and penalties, understanding these nuances can significantly enhance your journey abroad. Prepare for a safer, more informed driving experience in these two diverse countries.
Lanes
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | 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; specific hours may apply. | 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
belgium:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | 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
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | 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
belgium:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days