Driving Differences: Philippines vs. Taiwan Explained

Exploring the roads of the Philippines and Taiwan reveals intriguing contrasts in traffic regulations and driving practices. While the Philippines prohibits overtaking on many roads, Taiwan allows it under specific conditions. Additionally, speed limits, emergency contacts, and alcohol policies differ significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding local road customs for a safer journey abroad.

philippinestaiwan

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in philippines is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in philippines is 71

1.159 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for philippines is 1.159 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Philippines	Taiwan
Overtaking: On Right	Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.	Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.	Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with motorcycles or 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: Requirements	Minimum two occupants	Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not commonly used	Electronic signs display current limits.

Overtaking: On Right

philippines:

Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.

taiwan:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Bus Lanes: Usage

philippines:

Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.

taiwan:

Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.

Bus Lanes: Markings

philippines:

Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.

taiwan:

Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

philippines:

Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.

taiwan:

Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

philippines:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

taiwan:

Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

philippines:

Minimum two occupants

taiwan:

Minimum two or more occupants during peak times

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

philippines:

taiwan:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

philippines:

Not commonly used

taiwan:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Philippines	Taiwan
Urban Areas: Standard	40 kph	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20 kph	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 kph	50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 kph	50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	50 kph	50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 kph	90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	80 kph	90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 kph	80-90 km/h
Speed Units	kph	km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not commonly used	Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Less common; fines are usually issued later	Yes, fines can be issued on the spot

Urban Areas: Standard

philippines:

40 kph

taiwan:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

philippines:

20 kph

taiwan:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

philippines:

80 kph

taiwan:

50-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

philippines:

70 kph

taiwan:

50-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

philippines:

50 kph

taiwan:

50-70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

philippines:

100 kph

taiwan:

90-110 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

philippines:

80 kph

taiwan:

90-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

philippines:

80 kph

taiwan:

80-90 km/h

Speed Units

philippines:

kph

taiwan:

km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

philippines:

taiwan:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

philippines:

Not commonly used

taiwan:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

philippines:

Less common; fines are usually issued later

taiwan:

Yes, fines can be issued on the spot

Signals

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	Philippines	Taiwan
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used	Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Filipino; symbols are standard	Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

philippines:

Not used

taiwan:

Not used in Taiwan

Traffic Signs: Language

philippines:

English and Filipino; symbols are standard

taiwan:

Mandarin; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

philippines:

Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background

taiwan:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Philippines		Taiwan
U- Turns Allowed	Common, check for signs indicating restrictions		Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them

U- Turns Allowed

philippines:

Common, check for signs indicating restrictions

taiwan:

Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them

Documentation

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	Philippines	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
Insurance	Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory	Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Required for registration; certificate must be displayed	Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	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

philippines:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

taiwan:

International Driving Permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

philippines:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

taiwan:

International Driving Permit required

Insurance

philippines:

Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory

taiwan:

Liability insurance mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

philippines:

Required for registration; certificate must be displayed

taiwan:

Yes, periodic inspections mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

philippines:

Displayed on windshield

taiwan:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

philippines:

Mandatory

taiwan:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

philippines:

Not mandatory, but recommended

taiwan:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Philippines		Taiwan
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users		Frequent use in busy areas

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

philippines:

Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users

taiwan:

Frequent use in busy areas

Alcohol

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	Philippines	Taiwan
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.05%	0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.05%	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays	Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines	Severe for violations, may include imprisonment	Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fine

Limits: General Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

taiwan:

0.03%

Limits: Professional Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

taiwan:

0.03%

Limits: Underage Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

taiwan:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

philippines:

Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays

taiwan:

Common, especially during holidays

Enforcement: Fines

philippines:

Severe for violations, may include imprisonment

taiwan:

Heavy fines imposed

Test Refusal

philippines:

Can result in license suspension

taiwan:

Can result in license suspension and fine

Emergency Services

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	Philippines	Taiwan
Contact: General Emergency	911	119
Contact: Traffic Police	117	Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or AAA	Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

philippines:

911

taiwan:

119

Contact: Traffic Police

philippines:

117

taiwan:

Varies by district; inquire locally

Contact: Roadside Assistance

philippines:

Check with your insurance provider or AAA

taiwan:

Available via insurance or specialized companies

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

philippines:

Mandatory

taiwan:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Philippines	Taiwan
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000	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	PHP 300	NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use	PHP 1000 to PHP 5000	NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	PHP 1000	NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers	Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

philippines:

Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000

taiwan:

Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

philippines:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

taiwan:

Steep fines, possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

philippines:

PHP 300

taiwan:

NT$1,500, points in some cases

Common Fines: Phone Use

philippines:

PHP 1000 to PHP 5000

taiwan:

NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

philippines:

PHP 1000

taiwan:

NT$2,700, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

philippines:

Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers

taiwan:

Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

philippines:

Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance

taiwan:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay