Iceland vs Taiwan: Unique Driving Cultures Explored
Explore the contrasting driving regulations between Iceland and Taiwan to enhance your travel safety. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol tolerance, each country presents unique rules. Whether navigating urban streets or rural roads, understanding these distinctions ensures a smoother journey during your adventures abroad.
Lanes
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
taiwan:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
iceland:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 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 | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Taiwan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
taiwan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
taiwan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
taiwan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Alcohol
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Heavy fines imposed |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
taiwan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
taiwan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | 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 | Mandatory; fines apply | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay