What if I do not speak the national language?

In Japan, dial 110 and say "English, please" or request 通訳 (tsūyaku). In Korea, dial 112 and request English, or dial the 1330 tourism hotline which routes 24/7 in English. In US and Canada, 911 dispatch can call up a translator for most languages.

What if I can't see a road sign with the location?

Read your GPS coordinates or address. In Japan and Korea, expressway emergency phones at the shoulder will identify their own location automatically.

Will the roadside-assistance hotline tow me if it is not a crash?

Yes — JAF in Japan, CAA in Canada, AAA in the US, KOTI/insurance roadside in Korea will tow for flat tyres, dead batteries, and non-collision breakdowns. Rental cars: call the rental company's tow hotline rather than 911.

Emergency numbers and roadside-assistance hotlines — quick reference

Knowing the right number to dial in a crash or emergency saves time, and the right number is not the same across borders. Most foreign drivers know 911 from the United States and a few know 112 from Europe. Japan and Korea each have their own systems split by service.

We compile the practical emergency contacts for the four countries — including dedicated roadside-assistance hotlines, which often have English support in tourist-heavy nations.

⚠️ Not legal advice. Traffic and insurance laws change. Verify with the official source before you drive. Full disclaimer.

Side-by-side comparison

Country	Police / Ambulance / Fire	Roadside assistance
🇺🇸United States	911 (all services)	911 is universal across all 50 states and DC. Connects to local police, ambulance, and fire dispatch. Cell calls without service are routed. (FCC — 911 Services)
🇯🇵Japan	110 (police) · 119 (ambulance/fire)	Japan uses 110 for police and 119 for ambulance + fire. Both lines have some English support but not guaranteed. JAF roadside (#8139) has English support. (Japan NPA)
🇰🇷South Korea	112 (police) · 119 (ambulance/fire)	Korea uses 112 for police and 119 for ambulance + fire. Tourism hotline: 1330 (24/7 English support; can connect to emergency services). (MOLIT)
🇨🇦Canada	911 (all services)	911 is universal across all provinces and territories. Connects to local police, ambulance, and fire dispatch. (Transport Canada)

Country detail

United States

911 connects you to a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) which can dispatch police, ambulance, or fire. Cell phone calls from any provider — even without active service — will route to 911 dispatch. Calls placed on a vehicle's emergency-call system (OnStar, etc.) also route to local dispatch. Roadside assistance: rental cars include the rental company's tow hotline. AAA membership covers most non-collision tows but is membership-only.

Japan

The split between 110 (police) and 119 (ambulance + fire) follows the historical division of emergency services. Both operators may or may not speak English; the official advice is to attempt English and, if unavailable, request a translator (通訳, tsūyaku). For non-emergency roadside (flat tyre, dead battery), the JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) hotline #8139 has reliable English support and is the equivalent of US AAA. Rental cars include the rental company's tow hotline.

South Korea

112 (police) and 119 (ambulance + fire) follow the Korean emergency-services split. Both have improved English support since the 2018 Olympics. For tourists, the 1330 tourism hotline is staffed 24/7 with English speakers and can connect to emergency services if needed — useful when explaining a location or a complex situation. Rental cars include the company's roadside hotline.

Canada

911 mirrors the US system across all provinces and territories. Service in remote areas (Yukon, Northwest Territories) may route to regional dispatch. Roadside assistance: CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) is the equivalent of US AAA; rental cars include the rental company's tow hotline.

Frequently asked

What if I do not speak the national language?: In Japan, dial 110 and say "English, please" or request 通訳 (tsūyaku). In Korea, dial 112 and request English, or dial the 1330 tourism hotline which routes 24/7 in English. In US and Canada, 911 dispatch can call up a translator for most languages.
What if I can't see a road sign with the location?: Read your GPS coordinates or address. In Japan and Korea, expressway emergency phones at the shoulder will identify their own location automatically.
Will the roadside-assistance hotline tow me if it is not a crash?: Yes — JAF in Japan, CAA in Canada, AAA in the US, KOTI/insurance roadside in Korea will tow for flat tyres, dead batteries, and non-collision breakdowns. Rental cars: call the rental company's tow hotline rather than 911.

Sources

[1]JAF — Japan Automobile Federation — JAF · accessed 2026-04-23
[2]KoROAD — Road Traffic Authority — KoROAD · accessed 2026-04-23
[3]Transport Canada — Transport Canada · accessed 2026-04-23