The National Police Administration (NPA) announced yesterday that from yesterday until the Lunar New Year holiday -- a period in which many companies hold annual dinner parties -- the police will launch a crackdown nationwide on drunk drivers.
"The police will conduct serious checks for drunk drivers from [last night] to the Lunar New Year, nationwide," said Ho Kuo-jung (
"Police will test drivers' alcohol levels in areas with lots of restaurants, pubs, and KTVs, as well as on and main roads in every cities," Ho said.
In addition, the police will focus on testing bus drivers, who often cause serious traffic accidents, he added.
Ho said that according to NPA statistics, 434 people died in traffic accidents caused by drunk driving last year, making drunk driving the number one cause of driving accidents.
Also, according to the the NPA's statistics, January was the worst month for traffic accidents caused by drunk driving from 2001 to last year.
"Analysis attributes the high rate of drunk driving in January to the companies' holding of annual dinner parties," he added.
Under the current regulations, the legal limit for a driver's blood-alcohol level is 25mg per liter.
If a driver's blood-alcohol level exceeds 25mg per liter, he or she faces a fine from NT$15,000 to NT$60,000 -- depending on the type of vehicle driven and the blood alcohol content.
In addition, the offender will have their driver's license for a year.
Also, if a driver's blood alcohol content exceeds 0.55mg per liter, he or she can be charged with endangering the public. If drivers refuse to take a blood-alcohol test, they will face the same punishment.
Ho called for the public "to not sit behind the wheel after you drink."
"Because if you do, you will be risking innocent people's lives, which is kind of selfish behavior," he added.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost