To smooth the flow of traffic on jammed highways, the Minister of Transportation and Communication yesterday passed a host of traffic rules, requiring cars on the inner lane to drive no slower than 80kph, and fining those who park at the highways' rest area for more than 4 hours.
According to the rules passed during the meeting of the Ministry's Department of Railways and Highways, those who drive slower than 80kph on the highway's inner lane will be fined NT$3,000. The inner lane will be designated for overtaking cars on the outer lane.
To speed the inflow and outflow of traffic through the rest area, the Department yesterday also passed a new fine ranging between NT$3,000 to NT$6,000 for those who park for more than four hours.
The tide of tourists rushing to the rest areas has worsened the traffic situation on the highways, according to the director of the Ministry's Department of Railways and Highways, Lee Lung-wen (李龍文). Perched on scenic spots, the rest areas along the Second Northern Freeway and Sun Yet-sen Freeway have come to function more as recreational areas than brief resting spots.
"People don't come to take a break from their weary drive," Lee said, "they come here to barbecue and do stargazing."
Before transportation officials revised the rules, they conducted an opinion survey of 2,915 people to figure out what should be the proper duration of parking at rest areas.
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