tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post110791023697749307..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Driving and Land Use in TaiwanMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-7072061709274130062013-04-02T12:15:13.510+08:002013-04-02T12:15:13.510+08:00Has anything changed in 7 years? In my town, peopl...Has anything changed in 7 years? In my town, people stop cautiously at the blinking yellow light, and proceed with reckless abandon at the blinking red.<br /><br />I've never experienced such backward driving. I'll point to driver education, testing, and enforcement as others have despite that the theory on land use is probably also a factor.<br /><br />But, as has been expressed so many times before by so many like us who very well know the answer: what can we (foreigners) do? This is not our country, though we love it so.Tanyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787475872114352220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-164003620376212982012-08-12T01:12:26.702+08:002012-08-12T01:12:26.702+08:00This was a fun read! I am glad I am not the only o...This was a fun read! I am glad I am not the only one who sees this. The lack of enforcement of the traffic laws (among others) makes Somalia look like a police state!<br /><br />Maybe I missed it, but you failed to mention that not only do they drive the wrong way down a street (scooters and cars) but they will park that way too, at varying distances from what passes as a curb. <br /><br />But as my wife says, what can you do about it?Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06520429530803837026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-74697004373542829752010-08-11T14:32:45.629+08:002010-08-11T14:32:45.629+08:00I'm interested in understanding more about the...I'm interested in understanding more about the way land is used in Taiwan. This post is five years old, do the old regulations apply? If so, can you point me to some references?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-86813234499682806262010-06-15T09:59:38.897+08:002010-06-15T09:59:38.897+08:00I notice that you cited someone as saying that the...I notice that you cited someone as saying that the difference in driving habits is one of culture, not poor driving skills; a comment has also been posted to that affect. Generally it's good not to expect things to be as they are at home, and these are nice, tolerant remarks.<br /><br />In fact, however, nothing to do with being a foreigner or not: far, far too many Taiwanese people are needlessly killed each day on the roads as a result of what can only be described as gross negligence by the authorities in allowing the situation on the roades to persist. The simple enforcement of traffic laws would be a good place to start - Taiwan does in fact have some of the basic laws already in place.<br /><br />A brief look at what passes for the driving test [passed first time; thank you very much(!)] shows that Taiwanese drivers are simply not taught how to <i>drive</i> properly in the first place. The 15KPH crawl around a car park that constitutes the Taiwanese driving test is hardly a realistic driving test of the skills one needs, whatever country you live in. It's not just what happens when you press what peddle, but about hazard awareness, and being taught to think of other road users as a matter of course. No test will create perfect, safe, considerate drivers, but a good test of reasonable training will raise the threshold considerably. Driving may reflect culture, but it's a culture than can - must - be changed. <br /><br />More than land use policy - and I'm not entirely sure I agree with your argument on that point - I would say, then, that Taiwanese driving standards reflect very lazy, dangerous, attitudes towards driving, from government downwards, and a poorly conceived testing regime.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-57439775095867149552008-12-29T02:28:00.000+08:002008-12-29T02:28:00.000+08:00FYI: Regarding "driving legally" in Taiwan; you ca...FYI: Regarding "driving legally" in Taiwan; you can get a "Permit to Drive" (it's actually an extension of the 30-day limitation imposed on your International Driver's License) rather than go through the tests to get a "Taiwan Driver's License". The "Permit to Drive" is a two-page form: one you keep in your wallet; the other has a passport-sized photo on it (that you have to supply), and is kept on file at the local License Bureau. The best news is: NO TEST and IT'S FREE!!! On the down side, it only lasts as long as your ARC, so don't forget to renew them both at the same time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1159962695327329262006-10-04T19:51:00.000+08:002006-10-04T19:51:00.000+08:00I have to say your web pages are insightful if not...I have to say your web pages are insightful if not detailed observations which are informative to people wishing to visit the island. It really is a good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.<BR/><BR/>But I would like to add that even though driving in the country is terrible - I know because I was born there - one must remember that the island has developed its own unique kind of driving culture amongst all the chaos and growth during the developing years. Thus it would be pointless and stressful to try and impose one’s culture values and social habits onto this island. <BR/><BR/>My recommendation for everyone is to join the flow and in process reduce the probability of heart attacks or aneurisms. Not only will your health benefit, you’ll find personal growth and development by becoming more patient and thoughtful…hopefully anyway.<BR/><BR/>Driving anywhere outside of Taipei, especially at night is high risk. Locals know that and that’s why people with any sense don’t go for late night cruises. Economic progress and wealth segregation have created social problems which results in unexpected and nasty events for people – locals included. <BR/><BR/>The advice here is to go with someone with local knowledge, take a cab, or travel during the day. Remember, its okay to apologize behind the window first even know if you’re right! After all, is it really that necessary for you to obtain another scar to show off to your ex/girlfriend/wife/mum back home? <BR/><BR/>It’s really not that hard to drive in Taiwan. Just don’t expect everything the same as your home town. After all, if the food tastes so different, how can the driving be the same?<BR/><BR/>Take care now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1156001714641708202006-08-19T23:35:00.000+08:002006-08-19T23:35:00.000+08:00It's tough to follow rules of the road. Y? Most pe...It's tough to follow rules of the road. Y? Most people have no sense of regulations. I don't think it's taught/enforced at driving school. <BR/>When you drive on the highway and you high beam a slow driver on the left, what happens? The driver doesn't even acknowledge it, and keeps on the lane. Do they not know it's common courtesy to move to the right lane?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1142285227318530772006-03-14T05:27:00.000+08:002006-03-14T05:27:00.000+08:00Road rage kills in Taiwan, too. Gangsters and crim...Road rage kills in Taiwan, too. Gangsters and criminals who defy the law of gun prohibition do kill people out of road rage with their illegal fireamrs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1111018440668448782005-03-17T08:14:00.000+08:002005-03-17T08:14:00.000+08:00From Scott Sommers.It should not be forgotten that...From Scott Sommers.<BR/><BR/>It should not be forgotten that this ridiculous (and unique) arrangement was provided for us by the KMT. Not to excuse the DPP from all this mess. They're too busy promoting Taiwanese language textbooks and closing bilingual kindergartens to worry about the kind of issues that have a real impact on voter's daily lives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1109116019341598162005-02-23T07:46:00.000+08:002005-02-23T07:46:00.000+08:00How can we document this? We have professional pa...How can we document this? We have professional paper...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com