Driving in Croatia vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Croatia and Japan, understanding the distinctive traffic regulations and practices is essential for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving sides—right in Croatia and left in Japan—as well as varying speed limits and lane usage norms. Prepare yourself with this comprehensive comparison to ensure a secure experience abroad.
Lanes
| Croatia | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 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 | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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
croatia:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | 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 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | 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 enforced | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days