Driving in Japan vs. Luxembourg: Key Differences Explained
Understanding the nuances of driving in Japan and Luxembourg is vital for ensuring road safety abroad. Key distinctions include Japan's left-side driving and its strict alcohol limits, contrasting with Luxembourg's right-side orientation and higher speed limits. This comparison explores essential regulations, etiquette, and requirements, empowering travelers to navigate each country confidently.
Lanes
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Not typically used. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used. |
| 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: 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'; 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. |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
luxembourg:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
luxembourg:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
luxembourg:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
luxembourg:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
luxembourg:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
luxembourg:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 75 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 75 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
luxembourg:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
luxembourg:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
luxembourg:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Luxembourg |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
Documentation
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; must have a valid national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory; regular intervals |
| 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
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
luxembourg:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
luxembourg:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
luxembourg:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
luxembourg:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
luxembourg:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
luxembourg:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
luxembourg:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
luxembourg:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
luxembourg:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
luxembourg:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
luxembourg:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Varies; severe penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes; fines often collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; usually a specific period |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
luxembourg:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period