三大法規不同處
Three differences in traffic regulation
高速公路路權 Rights to drive on highway
台灣是機車王國。雖然如此，機車早期只有低於250c.c.，現在屬於機慢車。因為速度和性能的差異，是不能上高速公路的。也許是長期的機慢車駕駛習慣，當大型重機開放後，政府和社會大眾還是對機車上高速公路有疑慮。美國是美式機車的發源地（廢話），加上其他各國機車大廠紛紛打進美國市場，車子性能越做越好，一開始就沒有路權的問題，甚至因為完全平權，機車視為一台車。在停車格或馬路上看到一台機車占一條線或一車格是非常正常的事情。所以只要是150c.c.以上的車種，都可以上高速公路。後來的車道分割權力，則是在評估下，正式在加州開放（過去沒有違法，但沒正式立法，現在立法允許車道分割了）。
Taiwan is the land of two wheels. Even so, most bikes are under 250c.c. as only sub-250c.c. class bikes were allowed for many decades (trade regulation, protectionism...etc). Many Taiwanese haven't even seen large motorcycles on the road until the regulation was finally changed to allow big bikes to be imported and manufactured (Thanks WTO). Since bikes were generally seen as inferior and low performing than cars, the public and the government have concerns about possibly allowing motorcycles to go on the freeways despite the fact that a 250c.c. can easily outperform any vehicle on the road. America is a birthplace of many classic American motorcycles (well duh). And as more bikes are being imported to the competitive market in America, the performance and safety of the motorcycles improved year after year. There was never an issue with motorcycles having the same right as cars on road. We are all motorists after all. A bike is regarded as a car. The only difference is that only 150c.c. and above can go on freeway, and that's not to discriminate small bikes. It's simply a performance issue because 150c.c. can't sustain high speed over time on the highway. And then we have lane splitting which became legal in California recently
紅燈右轉 Right turn on red
在美國，紅燈時，右轉是允許的。前提是要把紅燈視為Stop Sign也就是“停”的標示。用意就是確定駕駛在進入路口之前，能先在路口前，斑馬線前，完全停住，確定沒行人，路口也淨空，才可以右轉。台灣部分規定紅燈不能右轉，用意當然就是完全避免右轉影響另一方直行車通行。
In US, turning right on red light is permitted. The premise is to treat red light as a stop sign. A driver needs to stop before the red light at all times before he or she can proceed to turn right after checking that the intersection is clear. In Taiwan, turning right on red light is prohibited. It's meant to completely prevent right turning vehicle from possibly engaging the straight-going vehicle on the other side. No turn, no accidents.
行駛規範無分別 No special riding regulation
在美國，今天不管是150c.c.以上還是50c.c.的小綿羊。只要是車，不管幾輪，大家都是一樣。左轉，右轉，停車，超車，法規都是一樣。沒有特別設置機車道，也不會有待轉區。唯一的特例是在大城市裡，因為車位難尋，所以有些政府機關會特別加設小型停車格給摩托車。而車道分割，這是目前只有加州實施，其他州都無分別。機車就是一台車。
In US, it doesn't matter if you are riding a 50c.c. scooter or a big motorcycle. As long as it's a street legal vehicle, you are all treated the same. There's no special lane for motorcycles and definitely no hook turn requirements. The only special case is designated motorcycle parking spots in dense city. Parkings are hard to be found, so it makes sense to pack motorcycles together in the city. And now there's lane splitting, otherwise everything else is the same.
三大習慣不同處
Three differences in riding habit
“停”標示的實用性 Stop sign and its effectiveness
之前朋友來美國，看到大家開車都一定會在Stop Sign這標示前面停車，然後確定可以通行，才過。他覺得很特別，怎麼會特別有一個標示叫大家停，然後大家還乖乖守規矩停住才行駛。我跟他說，其實台灣也有一模一樣的標示，只是沒人注意過。在台灣，考駕照大家都記得“停”這個標誌，我也記得都有讀到，可是一上路，就沒人記得了。因為“停”在台灣其實不是“停”，對用路人來講，“停”只是告訴他有路口要注意而已。如果今天真的有人在“停”前面，停下來了，還很有可能被後方來車按喇叭，趕著走。
My friend came to US one time and was perplexed to see everyone stopping at the stop sign. He was surprised that drivers were actually stopping completely for it. Taiwan also has the same stop sign, but people never stop at the sign. Some people don't even slow down. It's become a sign just for reference. People get mad if you actually stop at the stop sign as you might be slowing the traffic down.
右側超車 Passing on the right
因為台灣長期機慢車都規定要在右邊騎，很多機車騎士對於左側超車這個法規並不是很熟悉。在美國，右側超車是個大禁忌，尤其在同一線內，是絕對不行。除了警察開單之外，最嚴重是因為，美國駕駛人根本不會想到會有車從右方超車，所以有可能因為沒注意而產生擦撞。就算擦撞了，那也是右側超車駕駛的錯。
As mentioned earlier, sub-250c.c. has designated driving lane, which is on the right side of the road. Worst yet, it's often prohibited to ride motorcycles on the inside lane. As a result, riders in Taiwan are weary of passing on the left even though that's the right way to pass. In US, passing on the right is a definite no-no, especially within the same lane. Besides getting a ticket for it, you could be asking for serious trouble as nobody in US expects a passing vehicle on the right. It's just an accident waiting to happen.
禮讓行人 Yield to pedestrians
在台灣，行人過馬路是被逼著走。在美國，行人過馬路是被讓著走。在台灣禮讓行人，有時候還會被後方按喇叭，大概也是因為這樣，所以台灣行人特別注意路口，也學得更會保護自己？
Pedestrians are pushovers in Taiwan, whereas they are always yielded in America. Letting pedestrians go by gets the honk treatment from behind. People just don't have the patience to let pedestrians go. I guess that's why people are more aware of their surroundings in Taiwan?
點看法規/習慣三大不同影片 See supporting video below
訂閱文章部落格看更多! Subscribe to see more blogs!