Driving in Canada vs Japan: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Canada and Japan, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can greatly influence their travel experience. From the driving side—right in Canada and left in Japan—to varying speed limits and lane usage rules, understanding these contrasts is crucial for a secure adventure abroad. Stay informed to ensure safety on every journey!
Lanes
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | 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 often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
japan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 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 | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | 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 |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
japan:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | 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
canada:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | 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; often upwards of $200 | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually 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
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days