Taiwan will implement temporary high-occupancy vehicle restrictions on parts of the national freeway system during the Lunar New Year holiday to reduce traffic congestion as travelers return north after the holiday.
Under the policy, vehicles entering selected northbound freeway ramps must carry at least three passengers during peak travel periods. The rule applies primarily to sections of Freeway 1 and Freeway 3 connecting southern and central Taiwan, including routes commonly used by drivers leaving the Kaohsiung and Tainan areas.
The high-occupancy vehicle (3-person minimum) freeway restriction is scheduled for:
Feb 19 (初三) and Feb 20 (初四)
13:00–18:00
- Freeway 1 northbound (下營系統 → 頭份)
- Freeway 3 northbound (官田系統 → 竹南)
These are the ones that affect drivers coming from southern Taiwan / Kaohsiung region.
Feb 18–21 (初二–初五)
13:00–18:00
Freeway 5 northbound (蘇澳、羅東、宜蘭、頭城 entrances)
Ramp closures: Don’t miss the time windows!
Timed ramp closures are designed to keep too many cars from pouring onto crowded mainlines at once. For Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, the bureau’s plan includes daily 5 a.m. to noon closures of selected southbound entrances, including at Pingzhen (平鎮) System Interchange and Puyan (埔鹽) System Interchange on National Freeway 1, plus Shiding (石碇) and Pinglin (坪林) southbound entrances on National Freeway 5.
Freeway 1 — Pingzhen System southbound ramp (平鎮系統南下匝道)
- Feb 17–19, 2026 (初一–初三)
- 05:00–12:00 daily
Do not stop on the shoulder to add passengers to meet HOV rules. That can lead to a separate, costlier ticket and create safety hazards.
Drivers who violate freeway traffic controls, including entering a restricted HOV ramp, can be fined NT$3,000 to NT$6,000 under Article 33 of Taiwan’s Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. In cases where a driver enters a marked HOV-only lane without enough occupants, enforcement is often handled as a sign or lane-marking violation, commonly cited at NT$600 to NT$1,200.
Tolls and discounts: A cheaper way north at night
The bureau’s holiday pricing calls for a single-rate toll period from Feb. 14 to Feb. 22, with tolls suspended systemwide daily from midnight to 5 a.m. from Feb. 17 to Feb. 22. It also lists an extra 20% discount (8-tenths of the single rate) on National Freeway 3 between Hsinchu (新竹) System and Yanchao (Yanchao, 燕巢) System Interchange, a route many southern drivers use to head north.
Sources & References
Freeway Bureau (Taiwan) 2026 Lunar New Year traffic measures (ROC Year 115) — freeway.gov.tw;
Night driving risk warning during Lunar New Year — UDN;
Public broadcaster explainer citing holiday peak pattern and example mvk estimate — PTS News;
Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, Article 33 overview (local adjudication office reference page) — Taoyuan Traffic Adjudication Office;
Seat belt enforcement and example annual figures — MOTC 168;
Example reporting on HOV-lane sign and marking penalties (practice reference) — TVBS News;
1968 freeway app coverage (reference) — App Store listing.
