Driving Differences: Japan vs. Taiwan Explained
Exploring the unique road rules in Japan and Taiwan reveals intriguing contrasts that are essential for safe navigation. From driving on opposite sides to varied speed limits, understanding these distinctions enhances your travel experience. Whether you're tackling bus lanes or traffic signals, this comparison ensures you're well-prepared for the journey ahead.
Lanes
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | 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 taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles and scooters. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes 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 |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | 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
japan:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
taiwan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Steep fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay