Driving in Bolivia vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for your safety. This comparison between Bolivia and Japan reveals significant distinctions, such as driving on the right in Bolivia versus the left in Japan. Additionally, while Bolivia allows overtaking on the left, Japan strictly enforces right-side passing, ensuring a safer driving experience.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bolivia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bolivia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
japan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
japan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | 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 inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the 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
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
bolivia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
japan:
119
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in 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 may apply, varies by location | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days