Driving in Japan vs. Lithuania: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the nuances of road regulations between Japan and Lithuania reveals striking contrasts in driving practices. While Japan adheres to left-side navigation with unique lane markings, Lithuania embraces right-side driving and higher speed limits. Understanding these distinctions ensures safe and informed travels in both countries, enhancing your overall road experience.
Lanes
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Separation of opposing traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| 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 taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; 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
lithuania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
lithuania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
lithuania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
lithuania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
lithuania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
lithuania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 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, issued by police. |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
lithuania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
lithuania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
lithuania:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
lithuania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
lithuania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
lithuania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
lithuania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
Signals
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Indicates prepared to start |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Lithuanian; 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
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory annual check |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or 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
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
lithuania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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
lithuania:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
japan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
lithuania:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
lithuania:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, particularly at night and weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial; varies based on BAC level |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
lithuania:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
lithuania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment
japan:
Possible for severe offenses
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
lithuania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
lithuania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Mandatory, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, by police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
lithuania:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
lithuania:
Yes, by police
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay