Driving in Japan vs. Kuwait: Key Differences Revealed
Understanding the unique road regulations between Japan and Kuwait is essential for travelers seeking safety while navigating unfamiliar terrains. Key distinctions include driving sides—left in Japan and right in Kuwait—as well as diverse speed limits and lane usage rules. This guide highlights crucial contrasts to ensure your journey remains secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
kuwait:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
kuwait:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
kuwait:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
kuwait:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
kuwait:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
kuwait:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
japan:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Emergency Services
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
kuwait:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
kuwait:
Yes, possible