Driving in Japan vs Tunisia: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Japan and Tunisia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journey. While Japan mandates left-side driving with unique lane markings, Tunisia operates on the right, emphasizing different speed limits and overtaking rules. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| 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
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Moderate use |
| 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
tunisia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
japan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay