Driving in Japan vs. Mozambique: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the roads of Japan and Mozambique reveals striking contrasts in traffic regulations and road etiquette. Key differences include speed limits, the presence of bus and cycle lanes, as well as alcohol consumption thresholds for drivers. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience in both nations.
Lanes
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Not allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| 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.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
mozambique:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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 | 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
mozambique:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
mozambique:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Mozambique |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annually |
| 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
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
mozambique:
Annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
mozambique:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
mozambique:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
mozambique:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| 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, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
mozambique:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 121 |
| 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: Traffic Police
japan:
110
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,