Driving on the shoulder incurs a $4000 fine, but a similar case on Taiwan's Hwy 88 was canceled. Key differences revealed.

Stuck in traffic near an off-ramp, can you queue on the shoulder? The results differ between the National Freeway and Taiwan's Hwy 88. In March 2024, Ms. Fang was fined $4000 for driving onto the shoulder of National Freeway No. 10 (westbound, Yanchao section) to queue due to off-ramp congestion. She filed an administrative lawsuit, arguing that not moving to the shoulder could lead to rear-end collisions. The court examined the scene and found no vehicles ahead in the outer lane and a tractor-trailer to the left. It determined that the shoulder was not officially open for traffic that day, and traffic congestion was not a valid reason for the violation, thus dismissing her lawsuit. However, Hwy 88 saw a different outcome. In 2023, Mr. Chen was fined $4000 for queuing on the shoulder of Hwy 88 near the Fengshan off-ramp due to traffic backup. He appealed to the police, emphasizing that the congestion was unavoidable and that a 'Keep Right' sign was posted ahead of the ramp. After deliberation, the Fengshan Precinct recognized it as a 'situation of necessity' and voluntarily canceled the three tickets. The difference lies in the fact that the shoulder width on Hwy 88's Fengshan off-ramp is only 2.2 meters, falling short of the legal 3.5 meters, making official opening impossible. However, frequent traffic jams often force drivers to queue on the right. Police considered the unique circumstances and made a lenient judgment. In the freeway case, the court reviewed it strictly, citing that the section had been open before, and road users should have been aware of the regulations. Hwy 88 has since converted the shoulder into a deceleration lane and added signs to remind drivers to prepare in advance. Honestly, if you see a queue near the exit, wouldn't you just join it? Otherwise, you'd drive to the front and try to cut into the ramp, only to be called a 'noob driver' 🙄 And do you really think people who have been waiting so long to exit would let you cut in? 🙄