Driving in Estonia vs. Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique road customs and regulations in Estonia and Taiwan, two countries with distinct driving cultures. From lane usage and speed limits to documentation requirements and emergency protocols, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure travel experience abroad. Explore how these nations prioritize road safety and navigate their highways.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 |
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
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
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
estonia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
taiwan:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | 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
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | 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
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Alcohol
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints 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
estonia:
0.02%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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
estonia:
112
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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, points on license | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay