Driving in Denmark vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the driving environments of Denmark and Japan, several notable distinctions emerge that can influence road safety practices. Key differences include driving sides—right in Denmark versus left in Japan—and varied speed limits in urban and rural areas. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | 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 bicycles and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | 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 or red colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
denmark:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
denmark:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
denmark:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 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 | 110-130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for minor offenses. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
denmark:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Danish; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
denmark:
Used before green.
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
japan:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | 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
denmark:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
denmark:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
denmark:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
denmark:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
denmark:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days