Driving in India vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of India and Japan, you'll encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving cultures. Key differences include lane markings, speed limits, and road etiquette, each playing a crucial role in ensuring safety on the highways. Understanding these variations is essential for a smooth and secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
japan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | 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
india:
Not used in India
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
japan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
japan:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
india:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
japan:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| India | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, 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 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days