1. Introduction
Most people drive cars in the world. There are many roads, road signs and rules in the world. On one hand there are similar ones to Japanese roads and road signs, and on the other hand, there are different ones from Japanese roads and road signs. They drive on the right side of roads in most countries, but they drive on the left side of roads in Japan. Like this there will be many similar points and different points in comparison with New Zealand.
I will research my paper by using internet, and go to the library to collect materials. I will use textbook of driver license. Also, I will do research in New Zealand. I can watch road signs or roads actually while I stay in New Zealand.
My paper is organized as follows. First, I will introduce Kumamoto roads, and second, I will introduce New Zealand roads. I will compare these differences, including good points and bad point. I will introduce my paper by using some illustrations.
2. In Kumamoto(Japan)
Comparing Japan and foreign countries, the roads of Kumamoto are generally well-appointed. Japanese roads are not so rough, and almost all the roads are flat. There are not many steep hills in Kumamoto.
There are many Braille blocks on the sidewalk for physically disabled people in Japan. The Braille blocks are two types-- line blocks and dot blocks. The line blocks show direction of movement, and the dot blocks show places where people have to pay attention.
There are three main highways in Kumamoto. They are national highway 3 (Kumamoto north bypass), national highway 57 (Kumamoto east bypass) , and national highway 342 (Kumamoto west belt highway).
They drive on the left in Japan, and Japanese cars are right hand driver cars. There are also many imported cars recently. A few of them are left hand driver cars, but most imported cars in Japan are right handed cars like Japanese ones.
Japanese national expressways run from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Speed limits are normally 100 km/h, and most expressways are 4 lanes. The expressway in Kumamoto has 4 lanes too.
When we use national expressways, we must pay some tolls. Tolls on national expressways are based on distance traveled. When a person enters the expressway, they take a ticket, which can be inserted along with the fare into a machine. When they exit the expressway, they must pay tolls. Many rest facilities such as Service Areas can be found along national expressways.
Also there are urban expressways in Japan. They are like national expressways. They are found in many of Japan's largest urban areas. There is no urban expressway in Kumamoto, but there is one in Fukuoka prefecture, next to Kumamoto.
Here are some road signs in Japan and their meanings;
No entry
Be careful of animals
Slippery
3. In Auckland
There are many unpaved rough roads, narrow roads, winding roads, and gravel roads in Auckland. It may be difficult to drive for a beginner. Particularly, the roads of Auckland have many ups and downs and steep roads, and they may not be easy for people using wheelchairs. Also, Auckland’s roads widths are generally greater than Japanese roads. Many streets between houses are larger than in Japan.
There are 8 national highway in New Zealand as follows:
North Island
National highway 1: the road from Cape Reinga to Bluff
National highway 2: the road from Pokeno to Wellington
National highway 3: the road from Hamilton to Woodville
National highway 4: forks from national highway 3 and merges with national highway 3 at Wanganui
National highway 5: the road from Rotorua to Napier (via Taupo)
South Island
National highway 6: the road from Blenheim to Invercargill (via west coast)
National highway 7: the road from Waipara to Greymouth
National highway 8: the road from Timaru to Milton
Roads in New Zealan
drive on the left side of roads in NZ same as in Japan. Also, almost all of the cars are right hand driver cars. This is also the same as Japan. There are many Japanese cars in New Zealand. My host family’s car was also a Japanese car. (TOYOTA)
There is no concept of expressway in New Zealand, because the public road speed limit is 80-100km/hour. It is already set of a high speed. The public road speed limit in the cities is 50-60km/hour, but it depends on the place. Kiwi people call a highway “Motorway”. A motorway is a road for cars, and only walkers and bicycles are prohibited from using this road. When we use highways in Japan, we must pay a toll, but we don’t have to pay a toll in New Zealand. There is a big motorway around big cities, such as Auckland and Wellington. One motorway runs around the whole town in Auckland. We often used this motorway, when we went to the Sky tower, the museum, and so on. North Western Motorway16, Auckland Hamilton (Southern) Motorway1 and Northern Motorway1 run through Auckland
A right turning car encounters a left turning car in Japan, the left turning car has priority. The right turning car has priority in New Zealand.There are two cars in the picture above. The red car will turn right, and the blue car will turn left. The red car has priority in this case, so the blue car must stop until the red one turns right.
There are signals in the suburbs of New Zealand, but there are many intersections which have no signals in the city. Instead, there is a round intersection (it is called a “Roundabout”.) You merge from left turn, and you turn onto the road you want to go by driving in a spiral. Also, the cars coming from the right have priority.
Therere are many Braille blocks on the sidewalk for physically disabled people, same as in Kumamoto. Braille blocks in Auckland have the same roles as in Kumamoto
As you drive towards a pedestrian crossing, you will see pedestrian crossing signs before the crossing and black and white poles at the crossing. The poles are mounted with fluorescent orange disks, or round yellow lights that flash at night. White diamonds are generally painted on the road before the crossing. If you’re driving and see pedestrians, you had better stop and let them cross.
There is a raised traffic island in the middle of some crossings in New Zealand, but not in Japan. It is very convenient for pedestrians. If you’re driving and see pedestrians, you had better stop and give way to pedestrians on your half of the road, wait until the pedestrian have crossed in front of you and are clear of your vehicle before you proceed. A raised island was near my house, so I often used it when I went to Unitec.
Here are road signs in New Zealand and their meanings
Slow down and give way
Pedestrian crossing
School bus
there is a curve a little way from here
4. Conclusion
New Zealand’s roads are comparatively similar to Japanese roads, and the road signs are also similar. But there are many differences between New Zealand and Japan. Have we summarize some of the same points and different points.
Same points
They drive on the left in New Zealand the same as in Japan. There are Braille blocks on the road for physically disabled persons in both countries. Also, there are buttons for pedestrians at pedestrian crossings in both countries.
Different points
There is no concept of expressway in New Zealand. Also, when a right turning car encounters a left turning car in Japan, a left turning car has priority, but a right turning car has priority in New Zealand. There is no intersection like a roundabout in Japan. Finally, there is no raised traffic island in the middle of the crossing in Japan. This island should be introduced in Japan, because there is no road sign of give way in Japan. (1334words)
