Driving Differences: Hungary vs. Japan Explained
When exploring the roads of Hungary and Japan, distinct contrasts emerge in their driving regulations and practices. From lane usage to speed limits, Hungary allows overtaking on the left while Japan strictly prohibits it. Additionally, both nations maintain unique alcohol tolerance levels, emphasizing different approaches to road safety. Understanding these nuances is crucial for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hungary:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
hungary:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
japan:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hungary:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
hungary:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Generally used sparingly |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
hungary:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hungary:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days