Driving in Japan vs. Liechtenstein: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. This comparison between Japan and Liechtenstein reveals significant contrasts, such as driving sides, speed limits, and traffic protocols. By exploring these variations, travelers can navigate their routes with greater confidence and awareness of local driving customs.
Lanes
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used primarily at construction sites; indicates no passing. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Not typically used in Liechtenstein. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
liechtenstein:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
liechtenstein:
Used primarily at construction sites; indicates no passing.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
liechtenstein:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
liechtenstein:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
liechtenstein:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
liechtenstein:
Not typically used in Liechtenstein.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
liechtenstein:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
liechtenstein:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 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 | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; fines can often be paid immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
liechtenstein:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
liechtenstein:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
liechtenstein:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
liechtenstein:
Yes; fines can often be paid immediately
Signals
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Used to indicate that the light is about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
liechtenstein:
Used to indicate that the light is about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
liechtenstein:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
liechtenstein:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
liechtenstein:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Required annually |
| 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
liechtenstein:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
liechtenstein:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
liechtenstein:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
liechtenstein:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
liechtenstein:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
liechtenstein:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
liechtenstein:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used to deter drunk driving |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Heavy fines; varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
liechtenstein:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
liechtenstein:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
liechtenstein:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
liechtenstein:
Common; checkpoints used to deter drunk driving
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
liechtenstein:
Heavy fines; varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Contact insurance company or local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
liechtenstein:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
liechtenstein:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
liechtenstein:
Contact insurance company or local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines for use without hands-free kit; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Heavy fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes; fines can often be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
liechtenstein:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
liechtenstein:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
liechtenstein:
Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
liechtenstein:
Fines for use without hands-free kit; can be substantial
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
liechtenstein:
Heavy fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
liechtenstein:
Yes; fines can often be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
liechtenstein:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay