Driving in Bolivia vs. Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Taiwan, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. Key differences include bus lanes, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance levels, with Bolivia allowing higher BAC limits compared to Taiwan's strict zero tolerance for underage drivers. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants during peak times |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bolivia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bolivia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
taiwan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Taiwan |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
taiwan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
taiwan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
bolivia:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | 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 | Fines apply | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay