Driving Differences: Estonia vs. Japan Explained
Exploring the unique driving landscapes of Estonia and Japan unveils fascinating contrasts in road regulations and safety practices. From lane usage to speed limits, each nation offers distinct rules that reflect their cultural values and traffic norms. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
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
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Estonia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
japan:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | 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 | Required every year; proof must be carried | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the 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
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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 | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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 apply, points on license | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days