Driving Differences: Japan vs. Netherlands Explained
When navigating the roads of Japan and the Netherlands, drivers encounter striking contrasts that influence their travel experience. From lane usage and speed regulations to alcohol limits and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety. This guide highlights essential aspects that set these two countries apart, empowering travelers to drive confidently abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| 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: 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', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; 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 often distinct red coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
netherlands:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
netherlands:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
netherlands:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Dutch; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| 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
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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
netherlands:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
netherlands:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
Signaling: Entering
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Emergency Services
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
netherlands:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
netherlands:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required