Driving in Greece vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Greece and Japan, significant contrasts emerge that are crucial for safe travel. From the sides of the road on which vehicles navigate to speed limits and alcohol restrictions, understanding these variations can enhance driving safety abroad. Explore how these two nations approach their unique traffic norms.
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
greece:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
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
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | 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 | 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Greece | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Documentation
| Greece | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | 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 | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | 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
greece:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | 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 | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
greece:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days