Driving in Japan vs. Turkey: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Japan and Turkey, two countries with unique driving cultures. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Whether navigating on the left or right, being informed can enhance your travel experience significantly.
Lanes
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if 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 with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
turkey:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
turkey:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
turkey:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
turkey:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | More 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
turkey:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges