Driving in Switzerland vs. Taiwan: Key Differences Unveiled
When it comes to navigating the roads of Switzerland and Taiwan, understanding their unique regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol restrictions. While Switzerland emphasizes strict traffic management, Taiwan offers more flexibility in certain situations, highlighting the importance of familiarizing oneself with local driving customs before hitting the road.
Lanes
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used in temporary traffic management. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
taiwan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
taiwan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
taiwan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
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
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
switzerland:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
switzerland:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Speeds Limits
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
switzerland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
120 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
switzerland:
80 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Taiwan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
switzerland:
Prepare to go
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Traffic Signs: Language
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
taiwan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by sign | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses | 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 | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available | Yes, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in busy areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Alcohol
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police conduct random breath tests | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
switzerland:
0.00%
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signaling normally required when entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for the first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
taiwan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
taiwan:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 140 | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
switzerland:
112
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
switzerland:
117
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
switzerland:
140
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Switzerland | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension | 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 | CHF 60 | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | CHF 100 | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
switzerland:
CHF 60
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
switzerland:
CHF 100
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
taiwan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay