Driving in Colombia vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the unique driving landscapes of Colombia and Japan, notable distinctions come to light. From left versus right lane usage to differing speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring safe travels. Dive into our detailed analysis to navigate the roads of these two fascinating countries with confidence.
Lanes
| Colombia | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
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
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 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 | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Colombia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Colombia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Colombia | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on 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
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
colombia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 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; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, 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 | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days