Driving in Finland vs. Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
As you prepare for your journeys in Finland and Taiwan, understanding their unique road rules is essential for a secure driving experience. This comparison highlights key distinctions in lane usage, speed limits, and documentation requirements, ensuring you navigate each country’s roads with confidence and safety in mind.
Lanes
| Finland | 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
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
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
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
finland:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | 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
finland:
Not generally allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Alcohol
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
taiwan:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | 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, typically €85 | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately