Driving in Japan vs. Philippines: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Japan and the Philippines, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is essential for safe travels. Key contrasts include driving sides—left in Japan and right in the Philippines—along with varying speed limits and overtaking rules. Dive into our comprehensive comparison to enhance your road awareness in these unique landscapes.
Lanes
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| 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 PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or 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 occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
japan:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
japan:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance