Speed camera differences between Japan and Australia

One thing that always stood out to me after moving from Australia to Japan was how differently the two countries approach driving. On the surface I feel like they're quite similar. In both places we drive on the left, the roads are generally well maintained, and drivers tend to be courteous for the most part. When it comes to speed enforcement, though, they're pretty different!

Cars on the streets of Arita, in Saga Prefecture

In Australia, it's second nature to slow down for every speed camera. Even being a few kilometers over the limit can result in a massive fine, so most drivers keep one eye on the speedometer. For example, being 3 to 10km over the posted speed limit in my home state in Australia comes with a fine of $261 AUD (about ¥29,866!!)

Here, it's a lot different, though. Despite often having lower posted speed limits, traffic frequently keeps going at a steady pace past fixed speed cameras. That's because fixed speed cameras have traditionally been used to capture criminal speeding offences rather than minor infringements, with reported enforcement thresholds of around 30km/h over the limit on regular roads and 40km/h on expressways due to long-standing legal precedents.

Of course, I'm not saying that going over the limit here is encouraged! There are still police patrols and mobile enforcement, and excessive speeding can lead to severe penalties. In saying that, it reminded me that while Australia and Japan share the same side of the road, they take very different approaches to keeping drivers in check!

Are there big differences in how speeding is enforced between Japan and your home country?