Driving in Japan vs. Jordan: Key Differences Explained
Explore the distinctive nuances of road rules and regulations in Japan and Jordan. From driving sides to speed limits, each country presents unique challenges for motorists. Notably, Japan emphasizes left-hand driving with strict lane usage, while Jordan adopts a right-hand system with different overtaking rules. Stay informed to navigate these roads safely!
Lanes
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
jordan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
jordan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
jordan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
jordan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
jordan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
jordan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
jordan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
jordan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
jordan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not typically used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
jordan:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
japan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Moderate use is common |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
jordan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
jordan:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
jordan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
jordan:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
jordan:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
jordan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay