Driving in Italy vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Italy and Japan, intriguing distinctions emerge that impact safety and navigation. From the divergent sides of the road each country favors to their unique speed limits and signaling practices, understanding these variations is essential for any traveler. Explore how Italy's right-side driving contrasts with Japan's left, and discover the nuances that enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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. |
| 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
italy:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
italy:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Signals
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days