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Sun 16 Apr 2006 14:32

Taiwan top for radar trapping? - Harmattan

Just finishing a few days in Taiwan with a hired car. Wonderful place to get around provided you remember that the English literal translation on your maps may not be the same as the road signs. However, the police are hot on speed and there are lots of cars semi-hidden on the motorways or on entering and leaving towns waiting to deprive you of on-the-spot cash. Fortunately, I don't know the damage but I think it is close to three figures in sterling. Motorway is mostly 110 kph but drops to 90 or sometimes 70 on bends and bridges. What is noticeable is that sticking to the speed limit doesn't upset anyone and, yes, there are BMWs.

Other motoring things noticed:
either side overtaking
traffic light cameras
many motorway cameras mostly around junctions
tow trucks in big cities
wide scooter lanes in most towns and often in the country
signposting mostly English as well as Chinese but it helps to know road numbers
the occasional Rover 600 and the odd Freelander
Toyotas, Toyotas, Toyotas
Don't try drag racing at the lights with a Kia Picanto EuroStar automatic!

And parking tickets. I think I got a municipal one but as it is in Chinese apart from the car reg I had no idea what to do with it. It looks like a pay up soon or it doubles and triples street parking fee so the car hire company will find it and a lot of change to cover it when they pick up the car after I have left for Hong Kong. As I paid cash and they took no credit card details, hopefully that is that.

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Sun 16 Apr 2006 20:53

Taiwan top for radar trapping? - Armitage Shanks {p}

Do the Taiwanese BMW drivers go along with ours and drive around with their fog lights on, day and night? Good luck with the parking ticket!

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Sun 16 Apr 2006 22:46

Taiwan top for radar trapping? - Harmattan

The BMW role in motoring aggravation seems to have been taken on by Mitsubishis with blacked out windows and little blue lights in the front spoiler. They have the only aggressive drivers I have really seen.

Forgot to mention the wonderful traffic light system of giving you a countdown in red or green as appropriate to the next change. A similar countdown for pedestrian crossings operates in Tainan where the dustcarts speak English in a bid to help the locals learn the language!

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Mon 17 Apr 2006 00:44

Taiwan top for radar trapping? - Stuartli

>>where the dustcarts speak English in a bid to help the locals learn the language!>>

They'll talk a load of rubbish no doubt..:-)

Harmattan, you just might well have been photographed whilst paying your car hire bill - Taiwan manufactures about two-thirds of the digital cameras sold around the world.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by

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