Driving in Japan vs Paraguay: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the contrasts in road regulations between Japan and Paraguay reveals intriguing insights for travelers. From driving on opposite sides to distinct speed limits and traffic etiquette, these nations exhibit notable variations that impact safety on the roads. Understanding these differences is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
paraguay:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
paraguay:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
japan:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | More frequent than in 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 | Pull over to allow passage |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
paraguay:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
paraguay:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
paraguay:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days