Driving in Japan vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique road regulations and safety practices that set Japan and New Zealand apart. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol tolerance, our comparison highlights essential distinctions to ensure your driving experience abroad is secure and enjoyable. Understand how local customs influence vehicle etiquette and enhance your journey in these two remarkable countries.
Lanes
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 right. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
japan:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
new zealand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| 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 | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay