Driving in Indonesia vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
Explore the fascinating contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Indonesia and Japan. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and penalties for violations. While Indonesia offers greater flexibility for overtaking, Japan emphasizes stricter compliance and lower alcohol limits, ensuring a safer driving environment. Discover how these variations enhance road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, 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
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 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 | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | 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 required | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
indonesia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days