Driving in Japan vs. Spain: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Japan and Spain, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance, these countries showcase contrasting practices. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
spain:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
spain:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 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, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| 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
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay