Driving in Cambodia vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Cambodia and Japan exhibit striking contrasts in their road regulations and driving practices. While Cambodia drives on the right, Japan adheres to left-side navigation, influencing lane usage and overtaking rules. With varying speed limits and alcohol regulations, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience in both nations.
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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. |
| 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
cambodia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
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
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days