Driving in Japan vs. Latvia: Key Safety Differences
Explore the unique nuances of road regulations in Japan and Latvia, where driving practices diverge significantly. From differing speed limits and lane usages to contrasting rules on alcohol consumption, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Dive into our comprehensive comparison to better navigate the roads in these fascinating countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
latvia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
latvia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
latvia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
japan:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
| 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
latvia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days