Driving in New Zealand vs. Taiwan: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique driving landscapes of New Zealand and Taiwan in our comprehensive comparison. From lane usage to speed limits, these two nations exhibit distinct rules and regulations. Notably, New Zealand drives on the left side, while Taiwan adheres to the right, highlighting crucial aspects of road safety for travelers.
Lanes
| New zealand | 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 Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning 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 during certain hours. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 green pavement. | Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or more occupants during peak times |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Taiwan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
taiwan:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| New zealand | 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
taiwan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
new zealand:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
taiwan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | 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 | $150, points may also apply | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay