Driving in Egypt vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the driving landscapes of Egypt and Japan reveals striking contrasts in road regulations and practices. While Egypt favors right-hand traffic, Japan upholds left-side driving. From lane usage to speed limits, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe navigation and compliance while traveling in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Egypt | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
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
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
egypt:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 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 | Fixed speed limits | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
egypt:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
japan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
japan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
japan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
japan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
japan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 annual inspection | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
japan:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
egypt:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
japan:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
japan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
japan:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | 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 | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days