Driving in Japan vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey across borders? Discover the striking distinctions between driving in Japan and Venezuela. From lane usage and speed limits to road etiquette and alcohol regulations, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Equip yourself with essential knowledge before hitting the road in these two unique countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| 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
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 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
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | 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
venezuela:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay