Driving Differences: Japan vs. Singapore Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in roadway practices between Japan and Singapore. From lane usage and speed limits to documentation and penalties, this comparison highlights key distinctions that impact travel safety. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience while navigating the roads of these unique countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Not allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| 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 |
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
singapore:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Alcohol
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay