Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Taiwan Safety Tips
As you embark on your journey abroad, understanding the nuances of driving regulations is crucial. In this comparison, we explore the driving practices of El Salvador and Taiwan, uncovering notable disparities in lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol regulations. Whether you're navigating bustling cities or tranquil rural roads, ensuring your safety and compliance is paramount.
Lanes
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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: 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: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Taiwan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
taiwan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | 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 | $20 to $50 | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay