Interestingly, about once a day youtube has video evidence of Taiwanese doing this haha.
Cow catchers are justified here, on cars.
Driving on the streets in Taiwan is way too dangerous, safer to drive on the sidewalks/pavements/bicycle lanes to avoid the streets. Also drive fast, as longer you are on the road as higher risk for an accident. So full speed ahead and minimize the time driving
Forgot to mention, ensure to close your eyes the whole time, so you can credibly deny any knowledge of any accidents caused.
Hi J!
I have been in Taiwan for 3 years and driving since day one here (with more than 10 years of experience…). I love driving, so Taiwan is just a place more for me. Not worse nor better than other places. It is challenging, but I don’t see it as something terrible itself. People complain about scooter, but they mostly stay at your right.
Actually, I like driving so much that I got my driving license here last year after my international license got expired. That same day I rented a WeMo, and I learnt how to ride a scooter for the first time, and I LOVE IT!
So, your case really depends on what makes you feel more comfortable. I don’t know any place where you can practice in the way you want. Plus, driving “lessons” in Taiwan are super expensive! If I were you, I would just rent a car and try. The worse scenario is to feel too nervous and not get out of the parking lot o.o, and then you lose money.
If you don’t have any close person who can accompany you, I offer my time to be next to you. I have let some friends use my car for practice before (back at home), so I am not afraid of sitting next to someone who doesn’t feel confident and requires more time. You could drive to the riverside, cuz the traffic there is friendly, and then challenge yourself to a bigger street when comfortable.
My best Taiwanese friend is super scared of driving, so I always accompany her, or I just drive for her. So, don’t feel bad if you don’t feel comfortable driving here. From the comments, you can see various answers as well.
Let us know your judgment!
Best 
I’m used to the US, where generally there aren’t bicycles on the roads, people tend to ride on bike trails or off road. I wouldn’t want to bike here on the roads.
I think drivers here are more patient, follow the rules and more cooperative than in the US, especially northeast US.
But I’m so glad we got a small car here, and an automatic. Between parking garages, narrow streets, and those crazy mountain roads, I don’t know how people drive big cars here.
Yeah they have to be BIG! Drives mr crazy small streets where my apartment is I have to put my back against the wall to let cars pass, they have to pass believe me! Toot toot toot toot until fender brushing my leg!
Impatient big men/women with big cars 5.3litre for Taipei.
Hi everyone! Thanks for all your responses.
Quick update of what I decided to do, in case it helps others in my situation. Yesterday I had my first drive around Taipei! I opted for renting a car with the iRent app and driving around with my (Taiwanese) brother-in-law to help me.
I was quite nervous to be honest. But the important thing for me was to just start driving. Just having a first drive with no big issues, that alone gave me a boost of confidence.
I noticed that the driving here is not so much different than what I’m used to. Other drivers can be a bit more impulsive. You also have to pay attention to scooters behind you when you turn right. There’s also some special stuff (I almost went into a lane that was dedicated to scooters). My mandarin is quite poor, so for next time I’ll need to learn the basic markings and signs that are in chinese. But all in all, I’m happy with that first drive.
Now the tricky part for me is: “now what?”
Do I keep using iRent for occasional drives, or do I buy a used car? For now I’m leaning on the first option, since I’ll only need a car only occasionally. But on the other hand, it’s not by having a drive once every 2 month that I will progress…
Check your mirrors, mid, left, and right. repeat, mid, left, right, repeat. And if you change lanes always do it gradually and slowly. Be ready to break if people in front of you slow down. Seriously, be ready to break. Other than that just slow down gradually (not suddenly) if you get overstimulated and feel you are losing track of what is going on. Worst case, if you do not know how to get off a road, just go straight. Then after a few drives, you will get the hang of it.
There are many on ramps and off ramps that have very, very little time to switch lanes. Many even do the infamous X switcharoo with about 2 seconds to get over.
If you miss your exit, lane switch etc, dont panic. Just circle back.
Get to know road signs.
Dont immediatly squeeze your way into traffic when merging onto a highway. Drive all the way down the merge lane and then work your way in.
Change lanes slowly when many scooters are around you, always using your turn signal. But do so with confidence, they will make way for you once the zoomers pass you. There are always zoomers. As soon as they see your turn signal, they refuse to yield and zoom past you right or left.
Right lanes on city streets are pretty much occupied by double parking idiots. Stick to the middle lane.
If you arent paying attention to the road signs often, left lanes tend to vanish at the blink of an eye.
Use your mirrors, be aware.
I’ve been driving daily for 6 weeks now (1300km) and I’m very used to it. Driving in Taiwan does require more attention, awareness and focus than driving in the US. I have no idea how people can drive here while looking at their phones. 
Dangerously
The trick is to keep the responsible najority of the population on their toes so they’re so afraid that they avoid phoners
I guess you mean merging to a very slow, heavy traffic.
In normal, full speed highway traffic, I have seen many people doing that who barely avoided getting hit by a truck. They just continue until the end of merging lane and panic when a long truck is occupying the left lane space and they are unable to merge.
Remove your mirrors and signalling lights. You won’t need those. Get a really loud horn. You’ll need that when driving through red lights. Add as many distractions as possible in your vehicle. Perhaps a TV screen on the dashboard. Then pray at a temple for good luck.
You should be good to go.
Yeah you can keep using I-rent for occasional drives or even for a two day trip
I’ve been to Yilan , Wulai , Taoyuan , Keelung and also take train to Hualien and rent a car for a day with I-rent and is not that bad at all
My advice is to get out from Taipei city and plan ahead your route ,
I like to use navigation in the Google Maps app and have different list of saved places I want to visit.
With voice navigation, you can hear traffic alerts, where to turn, which lane to use, and if there’s a better route.
That is the proper way to merge. Get as far ahead as you can at normal speed. It is called zipper merging.
Yeah, not advised for light traffic.
Codified in UK Highway Code
The Highway Code could perhaps be a little clearer on the issue but it does at least give some guidance. Rule 134 of the Highway Code says: "In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed."
You merge with the flow of traffic.
Your speed should match the speed of those on the highway.
You dont slow down to merge. That causes fender benders and traffic.
You merge with the flow of traffic.
Your speed should match the speed of those on the highway.You dont slow down to merge. That causes fender benders and traffic.
Yes, of course.
I just point out that:
Drive all the way down the merge lane and then work your way in.
depends on speed and traffic flow.
Safety requires that there are margins available e.g. enough merging lane length to accommodate a braking distance in case merging fails (due to inconsiderate as#$%s etc)
This is why it is recognized in source material I mentioned:merge early at high speed.
My car has been broken for so long that, IF I succeed in fixing it, this might be an issue.
But in my area, out in the sticks near Tainan, there are roads along the side of storm drains and under the High Speed Rail link that see very little traffic, and so can serve as test drive/practice areas.