Driving in Japan vs. Slovakia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in Japan and Slovakia. From lane usage to speed limits, each country boasts unique regulations that influence road safety. While Japan drives on the left with specific restrictions on overtaking, Slovakia adopts a right-hand system with higher speed limits. Uncover essential insights for a safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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
slovakia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
slovakia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
slovakia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
slovakia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
slovakia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 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 | 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: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Electronic signs display current limits. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
slovakia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
slovakia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
slovakia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
slovakia:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Slovakia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
slovakia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
slovakia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
slovakia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay