Driving Differences: Singapore vs. Taiwan Explained
Exploring the roadways of Singapore and Taiwan reveals crucial contrasts in their driving regulations and safety practices. While Singapore adheres to left-side driving and strict speed limits, Taiwan embraces right-side navigation with varied speed allowances. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a safe and compliant journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Singapore | 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 | Not allowed. | 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 peak 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 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 |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
singapore:
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
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
singapore:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
singapore:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
singapore:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Singapore | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| Singapore | 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Singapore | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| 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 crosswalks and pedestrian zones | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
taiwan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
taiwan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Singapore | 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 frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
singapore:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Singapore | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | 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 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay