Driving Differences: Ghana vs. Japan Explained
When comparing road practices in Ghana and Japan, significant contrasts emerge that impact traveler safety. Ghana drives on the right, while Japan adheres to the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and traffic regulations differ markedly, emphasizing the need for awareness and adaptation for a secure driving experience abroad. Stay informed before hitting the road!
Lanes
| Ghana | 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 | Generally not advised. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
ghana:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 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 | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
ghana:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | 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
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Ghana | 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 | Mandatory | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | 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
ghana:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 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
ghana:
191
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days