Driving in Japan vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Japan and Romania presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler must navigate. From distinct lane usage and speed limits to varying alcohol thresholds, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring road safety. Prepare for your journey by familiarizing yourself with these essential driving distinctions between the two countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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 and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
romania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
romania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 90 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 | 130 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 | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
japan:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist