Driving in Malaysia vs Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Malaysia and Taiwan, understanding the distinct rules is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. While Malaysia drives on the left side and emphasizes overtaking on the right, Taiwan permits right turns on red. This comparison explores essential variations in lane usage, speed regulations, and documentation requirements, ensuring drivers are well-prepared abroad.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or '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. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
taiwan:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 90-100 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
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
taiwan:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
taiwan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | 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: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | 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 | RM300, points on license | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately