Driving in Germany vs. Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the distinct driving norms between Germany and Taiwan in this comprehensive comparison. From lane markings and speed regulations to unique traffic signals and penalties, each country showcases its own road etiquette and safety practices. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with 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 lane. | 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
taiwan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
germany:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
germany:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 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 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 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 | Common | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
germany:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; 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
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Germany | 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 for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | 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
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
germany:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
germany:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
germany:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | 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
germany:
112
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, 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 | €30 to €60 | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay