Driving Differences: Japan vs. Saudi Arabia Explained
When venturing to Japan or Saudi Arabia, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include Japan's left-side driving and strict lane usage compared to Saudi Arabia's right-side norms and allowance for overtaking. Familiarize yourself with these variations to enhance your travel experience and ensure road safety.
Lanes
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
japan:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay