Driving Differences: Indonesia vs. Taiwan Safety Guide
When navigating the roads of Indonesia and Taiwan, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. With Indonesia driving on the left side and Taiwan on the right, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage rules, drivers must be well-informed to adapt effectively. This comparison highlights essential contrasts to promote safer travel experiences in both nations.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, 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. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
taiwan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 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 | Common | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | 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 | Subject to local laws, fines apply | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay