Linsen N Road is the most dangerous road for pedestrians in Taipei City, with 74 percent of traffic accidents on the road caused by drivers’ failure to yield to pedestrians, the Department of Transportation said.
Recent statistics from the department showed that from January through last month, Linsen N Road, Longjiang Road and Kangding Road Section 3 were the three most dangerous roads for pedestrians in the city, with most traffic accidents occurring between 6pm and 10pm.
Taipei City Police Department Traffic Division director Fang Yang-ning (方仰寧) said that the intersection of Linsen N Road and Minquan E Road had a large number of fences because of construction for a new MRT line.
Fang said accidents happened more often near the fences because drivers failed to spot pedestrians when making a turn.
The large number of pedestrians taking or getting off buses on the bus lanes on the three roads was also a factor contributing to the high percentage of traffic accidents, he said.
Fang said the division clamped down on more than 9,800 traffic violations involving drivers failing to yield to pedestrians from January through last month.
This was an almost 30 percent increase compared with last year, he said.
The city government has increased the number of traffic police on the streets to promote the courtesy movement launched for the Deaflympics in September.
Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians can be fined between NT$1,200 and NT$3,600.
Fang said pedestrians have the right of way and motorists would be fined for failing to yield even in cases where pedestrians are in violation of traffic rules.
Fang urged drivers to yield to pedestrians under any circumstances, but also called on pedestrians to stop crossing roads against red lights.
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