Driving in Sri Lanka vs Taiwan: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique aspects of vehicular navigation in Sri Lanka and Taiwan, where road rules and practices diverge significantly. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and lane usages, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safe travel in either nation. Stay informed and drive safely abroad!
Lanes
| Sri lanka | 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 Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed when safe. | 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. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. | 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 | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
sri lanka:
Left
taiwan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
sri lanka:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
taiwan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
N/A
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
sri lanka:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
sri lanka:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
sri lanka:
50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
70 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
60 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
60 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
80 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
80 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
sri lanka:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Sri Lanka | Not used in Taiwan |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used more frequently in rural areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Hand Signals: Common Usage
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
taiwan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Sri lanka | 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Sri lanka | 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
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
taiwan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | 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
sri lanka:
0.06%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
sri lanka:
0.04%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
taiwan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 119 or contact local police | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
Contact: Traffic Police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Penalties And Fines
| Sri lanka | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; expect substantial fines | 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 | Fines applied; amount may vary | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied; amount may vary | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied; amount may vary | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
Common Fines: Speeding
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately