Driving in Japan vs. Slovenia: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Japan and Slovenia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. From driving on different sides of the road to varied speed limits and safety requirements, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a smooth and secure journey. Explore the vital differences that shape road usage in both nations.
Lanes
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. |
| 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
slovenia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
slovenia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
slovenia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
slovenia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
slovenia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
slovenia:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
slovenia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
slovenia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
slovenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
slovenia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
slovenia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Yes, fines are often issued directly by police |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
slovenia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
slovenia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
slovenia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
slovenia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
slovenia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
slovenia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
slovenia:
Yes, fines are often issued directly by police
Signals
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Slovenia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Slovenian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
slovenia:
Not used in Slovenia
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
slovenia:
Slovenian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
slovenia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
slovenia:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, periodic 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
slovenia:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
slovenia:
International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
slovenia:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
slovenia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
slovenia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovenia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
slovenia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
slovenia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; roadside checks conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Severe fines; varies based on offense |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
slovenia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
slovenia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
slovenia:
Common; roadside checks conducted
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
slovenia:
Severe fines; varies based on offense
Emergency Services
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | 1987 for AMZS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
slovenia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
slovenia:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
slovenia:
1987 for AMZS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines apply, €250 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
slovenia:
Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
slovenia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
slovenia:
Fines apply, €250
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
slovenia:
Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
slovenia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay