Iceland vs. Japan: Unique Driving Challenges Explained
When exploring the unique road regulations of Iceland and Japan, travelers will discover intriguing contrasts in vehicular conduct and safety practices. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and lane usage, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure experience behind the wheel in these two fascinating nations.
Lanes
| Iceland | 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. |
| 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; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
japan:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 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
iceland:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Japan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
japan:
Not used in Japan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
japan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
japan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | 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
iceland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | 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 | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days