Driving in Nepal vs. Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the driving landscapes of Nepal and Taiwan reveals intriguing contrasts that are essential for ensuring safe travel abroad. Notably, while Nepal drives on the left, Taiwan adheres to right-hand traffic. Additionally, Taiwan boasts dedicated bus and cycle lanes, alongside stricter speed regulations and alcohol limits, making it vital for travelers to adapt to these unique road norms.
Lanes
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles and scooters. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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
nepal:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
taiwan:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | 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
nepal:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | 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
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
taiwan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
taiwan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | 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 | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay