Driving in Japan vs. Oman: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into the streets of Japan or Oman, understanding the distinct rules and regulations is essential for ensuring a smooth journey. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Japan versus the right in Oman, varying speed limits, and unique lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these crucial distinctions can significantly enhance your safety and confidence while driving abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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: 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
oman:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
oman:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
oman:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
oman:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
oman:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
oman:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
oman:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
oman:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 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
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
oman:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
oman:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
oman:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
oman:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Oman |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
oman:
Not used in Oman
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
oman:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Regular inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
oman:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Use more frequent 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
oman:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Emergency Services
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 9999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
oman:
9999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment