Driving in Israel vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the driving practices of Israel and Japan, notable distinctions emerge that are crucial for safe navigation. Key differences include driving on the right in Israel versus the left in Japan, varying speed limits, and specific regulations around overtaking. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring road safety while abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | 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 | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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. |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 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 | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | 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
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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
israel:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local 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 | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days