Which side is the driver's seat in Taiwan?
5 Answers
In Taiwan, the driver's seat is on the left side of the car, and vehicles drive on the right side of the road. In Asia, apart from Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, and Indonesia, most regions and countries follow the same regulations as mainland China. Road traffic directions can be divided into two categories: driving on the left side of the road and driving on the right side of the road. Thirty-four percent of countries drive on the left, while sixty-six percent drive on the right. If calculated by road mileage, twenty-eight percent of the world's passable roads are left-hand traffic, and seventy-two percent are right-hand traffic. It is worth noting that, except for Japan, Thailand, Macau, and Indonesia, most countries and regions that drive on the left were formerly British colonies and have maintained left-hand traffic after gaining independence.
I've been driving for over 20 years. In Taiwan, the driving direction is the same as in mainland China and the US - we drive on the right side of the road. The steering wheel is on the left, and the driver sits closer to the center of the road, which provides excellent visibility. I remember asking my instructor when I first learned to drive why we don't use right-hand drive. He said it's related to history: after WWII, influenced by the US, Taiwan switched to right-hand traffic with left-hand drive, while Japan and Hong Kong maintained left-hand traffic with right-hand drive. This design is indeed safe and practical - it offers better left-side visibility for lane changes and overtaking, and the right-side mirror provides a clear view of pedestrians. Nowadays, all vehicles on the road are left-hand drive, even imported cars come with left-hand drive configurations.
As an enthusiast who frequently follows traffic culture, I've discovered that the unified placement of the driver's seat on the left side of vehicles in Taiwan is no coincidence. This directly relates to the right-hand traffic rule established in 1946—the left-sided steering wheel aligns with ergonomics, allowing drivers to clearly observe the road ahead and oncoming lanes. Compared to Japan's right-hand drive design, left-hand drive vehicles have a smaller inner wheel difference, offering better blind spot control during turns. Interestingly, even the height of highway guardrails and the placement of toll booths are designed to accommodate left-hand drive. Although Taiwan once had right-hand drive vehicles during the Japanese colonial period, the current traffic system is entirely based on a left-hand drive framework, including optimized turn signal positions and rearview mirror angles.
In Taiwan, the driver's seat is uniformly located on the left side of the vehicle. This is because the entire traffic system follows right-hand traffic rules, making it most logical to place the steering wheel on the left. For example, when overtaking, the driver can clearly see the movements of the vehicle ahead, and when parking by the roadside, they can accurately gauge the distance on the right. This layout is identical to that of the United States, Canada, and mainland China, but differs from Hong Kong and Macau. The main road markings and traffic signals are also designed to accommodate left-hand drive habits. Adapting to this setup is quick, just remember to pay extra attention to the blind spots around the A-pillar when turning.
When I first took driving lessons, the instructor emphasized in the first class that all vehicles in Taiwan have the driver's seat on the left. This design mainly aligns with the right-hand traffic rule to ensure the best visibility for drivers. On highways, drivers in the overtaking lane are closer to the central divider, making it easier to judge the distance of oncoming vehicles; in cities, right turns allow for a clear view of pedestrians on crosswalks. In actual driving, the left seat offers a wider range of adjustment, and manual gear shifting is more convenient. However, it's important to note that parking ticket machines are usually installed on the right side, requiring a slight lean to operate. In fact, left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles vary greatly around the world, but Taiwan strictly adheres to the left-hand drive standard.
