On the bus from Narita into downtown Tokyo, I noticed the traffic signs show real-time traffic updates. By contrast, in the San Francisco area, traffic signs are fixed displays, so most people use Google maps to get live traffic updates on their phones.

Both approaches use yellow (slow traffic) and red (stopped traffic) indicators, so they felt very similar to each other. Having the info displayed on traffic signs seems safer – after all you don’t have to look down at your phone while driving. But I wonder how the Tokyo signs display info about traffic outside the immediate area.

Anyway, the differences and the similarities, struck me as noteworthy. Click the thumbnails for more detailed photos, and let me know what you think!!