Driving in Japan vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained

When navigating the roads of Japan and Malta, it's essential to understand the nuances that affect your travel experience. From unique lane markings and speed limits to traffic regulations and alcohol limits, each country presents distinct road customs. This comparison reveals vital distinctions that ensure a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.

japanmalta

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in japan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in japan is 92

1.199 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for japan is 1.199 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Japan	Malta
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the right edge on divided roads.	Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Right	Yes, overtaking is done on the right.	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.	Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
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.	Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.	N/A
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.

malta:

Marks the left edge on some divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

japan:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

malta:

Often used to indicate parking restrictions.

Overtaking: On Right

japan:

Yes, overtaking is done on the right.

malta:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

japan:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.

malta:

Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.

Bus Lanes: Markings

japan:

Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.

malta:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

japan:

Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.

malta:

Shared use with caution, marked on roads.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

japan:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

malta:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

japan:

N/A

malta:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

japan:

Yes

malta:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

japan:

Electronic signs display current limits.

malta:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Japan	Malta
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	70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	60 km/h	70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	60 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A

Urban Areas: Standard

japan:

40-50 km/h

malta:

50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

japan:

30 km/h

malta:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

japan:

60 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

japan:

60 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

japan:

60 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

japan:

80-100 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

japan:

80-100 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

japan:

Yes

malta:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

japan:

Electronic signs display current limits

malta:

N/A

Signals

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	Japan	Malta
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Japan	Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language	Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard	English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

japan:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles

malta:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

japan:

Not used in Japan

malta:

Not used in Malta

Traffic Signs: Language

japan:

Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard

malta:

English and Maltese; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

japan:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

malta:

Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Turns

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	Japan		Malta
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by locality; check for signs		Varies by location; check for signs

U- Turns Allowed

japan:

Varies by locality; check for signs

malta:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Japan	Malta
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	Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate	Displayed on license plate or 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

malta:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

japan:

International Driving Permit required along with national license

malta:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

japan:

Mandatory; proof required

malta:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

japan:

Displayed on license plate

malta:

Displayed on license plate or windshield.

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

japan:

Not mandatory

malta:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Japan		Malta
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

malta:

To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

japan:

Generally used sparingly

malta:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Japan	Malta
Limits: General Drivers	0.03%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	Prohibited; zero tolerance	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints may be set up	Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; can lead to license suspension	Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

japan:

0.03%

malta:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

japan:

0.00%

malta:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

japan:

Prohibited; zero tolerance

malta:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

japan:

Common; checkpoints may be set up

malta:

Common; checkpoints used in some areas

Enforcement: Fines

japan:

Substantial; can lead to license suspension

malta:

Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Japan		Malta
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

japan:

Signal right when preparing to exit

malta:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Japan	Malta
Contact: General Emergency	119	112
Contact: Traffic Police	110	112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or JAF	Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended	Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Recommended but not mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

japan:

119

malta:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

japan:

110

malta:

112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

japan:

Check with your insurance provider or JAF

malta:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

japan:

Recommended

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

japan:

Recommended

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Japan	Malta
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines, points on license	Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Severe fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines; enforceable	Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	Severe fines, points on license	Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines, points on license	Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Rare; fines usually paid later	Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 30 days	Varies; typically 15 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

japan:

Varies; substantial fines, points on license

malta:

Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

japan:

Severe fines, possible jail time

malta:

Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

japan:

Fines; enforceable

malta:

Typically around €50, points may apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

japan:

Severe fines, points on license

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

japan:

Fines, points on license

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

japan:

Rare; fines usually paid later

malta:

Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail

Payment: Deadline

japan:

Varies; typically within 30 days

malta:

Varies; typically 15 days to pay