Driving in Japan vs Madagascar: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the roads of Japan and Madagascar, distinct contrasts emerge in traffic regulations, lane usage, and speed limits. Japan adheres to left-side driving and strict adherence to speed limits, while Madagascar opts for right-side driving with more flexible speed regulations. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and efficient journey in each destination.
Lanes
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
japan:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
japan:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
japan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
japan:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
japan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
japan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
madagascar:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
japan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
japan:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority