YUNLIN (TVBS News) — A driver operating his vehicle and reading a book at the same time while southbound on National Freeway 1 was recently photographed and fined by the National Highway Police.
The photo, posted by police on the department's official Facebook account, explained that the incident occurred at the 246.1-kilometer mark near Yunlin County's Dapi Township.
While driving a white Tesla, the man appeared absorbed in a book he had open in front of him, obscuring his line of sight. The police subsequently shared the incident on Facebook to urge the public not to do the same.
Based on Taiwan's Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, the driver was penalized for reckless driving.
Penalties range from NT＄6,000 to NT＄24,000, and the police immediately stopped the driver. Additionally, his license will be suspended for six months.
According to statistics from the National Highway Police Bureau, there has been a 50% increase in accidents involving construction areas and crash cushion trucks on national highways between last year and the previous year.
Notably, vehicles equipped with automatic collision-assistance systems have steadily increased their share of accidents, hitting 64% this year and causing 86 fatalities and injuries over the past three years.
Police are urging drivers to keep safe distances, to avoid over-reliance on driving-assist systems, and always to pay attention to driving conditions.
