Driving Differences: Australia vs Taiwan Explained
When exploring the contrasting road rules of Australia and Taiwan, it's essential to understand their unique traffic regulations and safety practices. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in Taiwan, and varying speed limits and overtaking protocols. This comparison will equip you with crucial knowledge for a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles and scooters. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or more occupants during peak times |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
taiwan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
taiwan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Taiwan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
taiwan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
taiwan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
taiwan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
taiwan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Steep fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay