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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| 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:
No
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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