Driving in Japan vs. Montenegro: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads, Japan and Montenegro present distinct contrasts that every traveler should be aware of. From driving sides and speed limits to traffic signals and emergency protocols, understanding these nuances is essential for a secure journey. Discovering how these countries diverge in their roadway practices can ensure a safer experience abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Usually not allowed; adhere to local regulations. |
| 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 with road signs and pavement markings. |
| 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 | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
montenegro:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
montenegro:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
montenegro:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
montenegro:
Usually not allowed; adhere to local regulations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
montenegro:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
montenegro:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
montenegro:
Labeled with road signs and pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
montenegro:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
montenegro:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
montenegro:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
montenegro:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
montenegro:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, fines can be imposed on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
montenegro:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
montenegro:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
montenegro:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
montenegro:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
montenegro:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
montenegro:
Yes, fines can be imposed on the spot
Signals
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Montenegro |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Montenegrin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border and white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
montenegro:
Not used in Montenegro
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
montenegro:
Montenegrin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
montenegro:
Triangle-shaped with red border and white background
Turns
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Sometimes allowed, check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
montenegro:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
montenegro:
Sometimes allowed, check for signs
Documentation
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for extended stays |
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on 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
montenegro:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for extended stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
montenegro:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
montenegro:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
montenegro:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
montenegro:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
montenegro:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Use common but regulated |
| 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
montenegro:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
montenegro:
Use common but regulated
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
montenegro:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
montenegro:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
montenegro:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
montenegro:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 122 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Available from several organizations; check locally |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
montenegro:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
montenegro:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
montenegro:
Available from several organizations; check locally
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
montenegro:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
montenegro:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; can be up to €1,200 for severe offenses |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply, amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply, amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply, amount varies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Usually within 8 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
montenegro:
Varies; can be up to €1,200 for severe offenses
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
montenegro:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
montenegro:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
montenegro:
Usually within 8 days