road safety 結果共33筆

Explore how Taiwan’s government is tackling pedestrian safety through new regulations and the challenges it faces as accident rates remain high. Learn about innovative traffic solutions and the importance of continual law evaluation.

Discover the aftermath of a magnitude 6 earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan, with significant impacts on local infrastructure, including the tilting of the Fouquet Hotel and the collapse of the Tong Shuai Building. Learn about the ongoing efforts to prevent further damage, the effect on local businesses, and the community’s response to ensure safety amidst continuous aftershocks.

Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation, Wang Kwo-tsai, expresses regret over not prioritizing road safety, amidst rising traffic accidents and injuries. Despite efforts to reduce fatalities, Taiwan lags behind Japan in traffic safety. Legislative discussions reveal concerns over the ＂Road Traffic Management and Penalty Amendment Act＂ and its impact on police workload, despite advancements in digital reporting of traffic violations.

The Central Cross-Island Highway in Hualien, damaged by the recent earthquake, will reopen to heavy trucks under 17 tons at the 19.7-km mark on April 15 after initial repairs by the Highway Bureau’s Guguan section, with load inspections and reinforcement construction planned to ensure road safety.

Foreign nationals hiking in Hualien’s Taroko National Park share their terrifying experiences of surviving a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake, highlighting the impact on the landscape and their quick thinking that led to safety.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che vows to hold construction firms accountable for a sinkhole incident in the West Central District, ensuring city residents’ safety. The collapse, caused by a construction site road failure, led to a truck sinking into a 15x5x3-meter sinkhole and a crane arm falling, damaging traffic signs and buildings. The city government swiftly filled the hole with grout, resumed traffic, and imposed a fine on the negligent construction company. Huang Long Construction faces scrutiny for premature construction steps, prompting safety checks and an improvement plan before work can resume.

Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an announces the return of free 30-minute YouBike rides, part of a plan to expand operations and promote safety and physical activity in the city. The initiative aligns with ambitious environmental goals for 2030, aiming for a 40% reduction in carbon emissions and a 70% green transportation usage rate.

Explore how Taiwan is addressing the increasing traffic violations through a comprehensive approach involving traffic enforcement cameras, enhanced traffic safety education, and strategic urban planning, as highlighted by experts.

The Vision Zero pedestrian safety advocacy group calls on Taiwan’s new congress to support a draft pedestrian traffic safety facilities law. The group recommends comprehensive implementation of sidewalks, removal of sidewalk obstacles, standardization of temporary sidewalks during construction, and explicit arcade project guidelines. The draft law must be proposed by the National Land Management Agency and approved by the executive branch before being reviewed by the Legislative Yuan. Despite the passing of a basic road traffic safety law in 2023, Vision Zero notes that the projected death toll may still exceed 3,000. The chairman of Vision Zero, Chen Kai-ning, proposes four amendments to the law, including the provision of physical sidewalks on wider roads, marking sidewalk designations on narrower roads, establishing basic sidewalk standards and non-permissible uses, and installing physical sidewalks beside arcades. Between January and November 2023, there were 2,759 road fatalities and 367,311 recorded severe accidents in Taiwan, representing an increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has responded to a citizen-led initiative calling for changes in traffic practices. The ministry announced that the regulation allowing two-stage left turns will not be abolished entirely but should be evaluated based on site-specific characteristics. The initiative also called for the prohibition of motorbikes on inner lanes of general roads and reform of the driver’s license test system. The MOTC stated that local governments should assess and plan motorbike lanes and two-stage left turn control measures according to their specific road traffic conditions. The ministry emphasized that motorbike riders should follow road sign guidance, and universal rules should only be followed in the absence of signs. In terms of the licensing system, the ministry has implemented a motorbike training program since 2019 to enhance driving quality and response capabilities. The program has been successful, resulting in a 56% decrease in traffic violations and a 35% decrease in accidents by 2022. The Highway Bureau of MOTC plans to continue promoting the program and implementing road training measures in 2024, periodically reviewing and adjusting the test content to optimize the training system for motorbike operators.

Yangmingshan Elementary School, located in Taipei, Taiwan, has become the first school in the country to implement a two-day cold break due to a cold front. Principal Liang Chih-huan made the decision to prioritize student safety, considering the potential for snowfall at students’ homes and icy roads. The suspended classes will be made up on the following Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, there is a possibility of snow at Yangmingshan’s Erziping trail, leading to an increase in snow tourists. Nearby Chinese Culture University is already on winter break, but administrative staff will take time off based on actual conditions. In the event of snowfall, vehicle restrictions will be imposed on Yangde Boulevard, the main road to Yangmingshan, with only vehicles with passes permitted to proceed. Snow chains will be required for vehicles accessing the mountain’s control and snow viewing points, and buses will not be allowed in the controlled areas.

Taiwan addresses safety concerns as it grapples with transformer boxes obstructing narrow sidewalks. New Taipei City’s success inspires Taipei’s plans, balancing safety and aesthetics.

Taipei City plans to install four more traffic enforcement cameras at intersections starting from January 1, 2024, to maintain traffic order. The new technology will assist in enforcing traffic regulations, including stopping for pedestrians, obeying traffic lights, making proper turns, and following traffic signal directions. Violations captured by the cameras will be penalized under the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. Since 2019, Taipei has already installed such cameras in 34 areas, resulting in over a 90% decrease in traffic violations according to the Traffic Division’s data. The introduction of tech-based traffic enforcement aims to reduce violations and ensure smooth traffic flow, with the authorities urging drivers to prioritize traffic safety. These additional installations are expected to contribute to safer road conditions in the city.

Experience the first snowfall of 2023 in Taipingshan, Yilan County, as freezing temperatures dropped to minus 6 degrees Celsius. The lightly covered statue of an owl added a touch of winter charm to the area. Despite the strong winds, the snowfall was not significant, and there was no observed increase in the trend. To ensure safety, the management urged all visitors to descend the mountain from 4 p.m. to avoid road ice. Tourists seeking snow experiences have booked local accommodations, highlighting the enthusiasm for the snowfall. For safety reasons, there will be a dynamic total volume control for vehicular entrance into the park, halting new entries once the limit of 1,000 vehicles is reached.

Presidential candidate Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party has shifted his stance on allowing heavy motorcycles on national freeways. Previously, he promised to open the freeways to heavy motorcycles if elected, but now suggests that if the majority opposes it, the government should amend the law accordingly. This change comes in response to public opinion polls showing that 60% of people are against the policy change. Ko cited discussions with the Drivers Union, which strongly opposes the idea, due to safety concerns such as an increase in accidents and fatalities. Additionally, Ko proposes eliminating the two-stage left turn system for motorcycles and having motorcyclists line up behind cars at traffic signals. He believes that the decision on left turns should be based on the number of lanes on the road, taking into account the specificities of different roadways.

Scores of heavy motorcycles surrounded the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in Taipei on Sunday afternoon, demanding the immediate implementation of laws allowing large motorcycles access to highways. The protest, organized by groups such as the Republic of China Motorcycle Industry Promotion Association and the Taiwan Motorcycle Riders Association (TMRA), aimed to voice discontent with current traffic regulations. The bikers’ demands included immediate access to highways, permission to park in designated spaces, and the abolition of Article 99 of the Road Traffic Safety Rules. The movement’s initiators criticized the MOTC for stalling, pointing out that laws permitting heavy motorcycles on national highways were passed over a decade ago. TMRA secretary-general Liu Cheng-chien expressed frustration at the Highways Bureau’s lackluster response, highlighting the discrepancy between government policies and the desires of the biking community. Protest leaders claimed that 70% of the populace is unaware that the regulation allowing motorbikes on highways has already passed the third reading. They argued that the department’s polling does not reflect public opinion and questioned the legitimacy of basing policies on a single survey. Traffic advocacy groups have long emphasized the need for large motorcycles to have the freedom to choose between car or motorcycle parking spots. Despite recent responses from the Highway Bureau considering trials with some local governments, groups argue that central government intervention is necessary for a uniform solution to parking regulations.

Taiwan’s first highway autonomous bus conducted its inaugural licensing and passenger-carrying tests. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Highway Bureau commissioned Green Transit Co., Ltd to deploy the self-driving bus, which traveled 16 kilometers autonomously at a set speed of 40 kilometers per hour. The bus, accompanied by an engineering driver during the trial phase, cost NT＄30 million to develop. The full route spans 44 kilometers, with over 70% being autonomous. The service is expected to provide free rides to the public starting in March next year, with seven stops and 7 to 8 daily services. The initiative aims to address the shortage of public transportation personnel and reduce traffic incidents. The Highway Bureau plans to enhance highway maintenance and public transport operations using smart technology.

A tragic school bus collision in Changhua County leaves two children in intensive care and sparks a debate on seatbelt regulations for school buses. The accident, which occurred at a problematic intersection, highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and emergency response in Taiwan.

Explore Taiwan’s latest efforts to combat traffic accidents with pedestrian refuge islands. Despite their safety intent, these measures have sparked a debate between enhancing safety and increasing convenience, reflecting Taiwan’s ongoing struggle to improve road safety.

Taiwanese citizens express their dissatisfaction with the new road regulations implemented on July 1 through social media, sharing stories of the consequences of violating the rules. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) amended Section 43 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, imposing fines and driving bans for drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 kilometers per hour. Offenders also face a six-month license suspension. Despite Taiwan’s reputation for bad traffic behavior, some argue that the previous threshold of exceeding the speed limit by 60 kilometers per hour should be reinstated. The MOTC asserts that managing speed is crucial for road safety worldwide and considers excessive speeding a serious offense. They emphasize that higher speeds limit a driver’s field of vision and reaction time, urging citizens to comply with traffic rules without presuming luck.

Last year, Taipei’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations witnessed a five-year high in injuries on escalators, with 65 incidents recorded, according to Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC). Out of these, 61 were caused by walking, while 4 were the result of running. As of September 2023, there have already been 41 walking-related injuries and 3 running-related injuries. The stations with the highest number of injuries in 2022 were Taipei Main Station, Ximen Station, Minquan West Road Station, and Xinpu Station. In response to the high injury numbers, a Taipei City Councilor requested a comprehensive review by the TRTC. The company has been actively promoting safety on its escalators, urging passengers to hold on to handrails and stand firmly on steps. Passengers are also encouraged not to run and to respect other commuters for the sake of order, safety, and courtesy. TRTC emphasized that regular inspections and maintenance of escalator components have shown that the practice of standing on the right and walking on the left does not affect the machinery’s lifespan. The company conducts monthly maintenance checks as required by law, and an inspection agency carries out an annual safety inspection to ensure smooth equipment operation.

A foreign resident in Taichung, Taiwan expressed concerns about the nation’s traffic regulations and pedestrian safety in a Facebook group. Despite his love for Taiwan, he fears crossing the road and regretted his move at times. He called for genuine progress in Taiwan and urged political figures to address traffic-related casualties.

Tainan’s traffic fatalities have decreased by 4% from January to August, according to Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che. The city has seen a decrease in motorbike accidents and incidents involving the elderly, down by 7.9% and 6% respectively. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has identified 26 traffic junctions in Tainan that need improvement out of a total of 1,000 nationwide. Additionally, eight locations in the city have been targeted for improvement. Tainan has also made progress in pedestrian safety, with the highest increase nationwide in the ＂exclusive pedestrian phase and early start phase＂ indicator, with improvements made to 111 spots.

Discover how Yilan-Longtan Elementary School enhances student safety with a creative solution. Waterproof bag covers with bright green reflective stripes improve visibility on the streets. Learn more about this innovative approach.

Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Wang Kwo-tsai, has proposed a draft of the traffic safety basic law to enhance pedestrian safety in Taiwan. The aim is to establish a people-centric traffic safety environment, with an emphasis on humanistic ideas and fostering a road safety environment.