Driving Differences: Japan vs Malaysia for Safe Travels
Welcome to our comprehensive comparison of driving regulations in Japan and Malaysia. Discover key distinctions in road markings, speed limits, and documentation requirements that impact your travel experience. From unique bus lane usages to differing alcohol limits, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| 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 'BAS' or '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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
japan:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
malaysia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay