Driving Safety: Japan vs. Morocco - Key Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Japan and Morocco, where rules of the road diverge significantly. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol regulations, this comparison highlights the essential distinctions that ensure safe navigation in each country. Equip yourself with vital insights to enhance your travel experience and promote road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
morocco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
morocco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 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
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
japan:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the 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
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
morocco:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
morocco:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay