Driving in Japan vs. Russia: Key Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Japan and Russia present distinctive challenges for drivers. Key distinctions include Japan's left-side driving and strict bus lane regulations, contrasted with Russia's right-side driving and more lenient overtaking rules. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
russia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
russia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 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 | 70-80 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 | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Less frequent use 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
russia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.035% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay