Driving in Japan vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences
Explore the vital contrasts in roadway regulations between Japan and Switzerland to enhance your travel experience. Key distinctions include driving sides—left in Japan and right in Switzerland—as well as varying speed limits and signage systems. Understanding these essential aspects will help ensure your journey remains secure and enjoyable in both countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 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 | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| 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 | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
japan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
japan:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay