Driving in France vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in France and Japan, where regulations and road norms vary significantly. From the side of the road on which vehicles operate to speed limits and signaling practices, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Stay informed for a safe and enjoyable driving experience!
Lanes
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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
france:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | 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 | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
france:
Not used in France
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | 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 | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
france:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days