Driving in Japan vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the nuances of road regulations, Japan and Norway present unique driving landscapes. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Japan versus the right in Norway, varying speed limits, and diverse protocols for emergency services. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience when visiting these remarkable countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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' 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 colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-50 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 | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Documentation
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with a national driving license |
| 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 inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | None |
| 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
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay