Driving Differences: Japan vs. Peru Explained
When navigating the roads of Japan and Peru, drivers encounter distinct regulations that can significantly impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and documentation requirements, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover how these two nations differ in their approach to road safety and etiquette.
Lanes
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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: 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
peru:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
peru:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
peru:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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 | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
peru:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Peru |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
japan:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
peru:
Not used in Peru
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| 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
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Often used more 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
peru:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 widely |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
peru:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Emergency Services
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
peru:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay