Driving Differences: Georgia vs. Japan Explained
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between Georgia and Japan to enhance your travel experience. From the distinct driving sides—right in Georgia and left in Japan—to varied speed limits and traffic etiquette, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Stay informed and drive safely in unfamiliar territories!
Lanes
| Georgia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
georgia:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
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
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
japan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
georgia:
30-50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
georgia:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Georgia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
georgia:
Not used
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Georgia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Georgia | 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; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | 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
georgia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
georgia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Georgia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Georgia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
georgia:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Rare; fines usually paid later |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
georgia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later