Driving Differences: Greece vs. Taiwan Explained
When navigating the roads in Greece or Taiwan, understanding the unique regulations and practices can significantly enhance your travel experience. Key distinctions include variable speed limits in Taiwan, while Greece enforces strict lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures safer journeys and better compliance with local driving norms.
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Not applicable | Minimum two or more occupants during peak times |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
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
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
greece:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | 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 | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Taiwan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
taiwan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
greece:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Alcohol
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
taiwan:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, 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 | €350, points on license | 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 | €350, points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay