Regulations for electric bicycles could face a shakeup later this year, due to an increase in the number of injuries involving the bikes, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said.
Statistics from the National Police Agency (NPA) and the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) showed that the number of people killed in traffic accidents involving electric-powered bicycles has risen from two in 2012 to six last year.
The number of people injured has increased from 744 in 2012 to 1,122 in 2013 and 1,455 last year.
MOTC data show that the nation has issued certification labels to about 150,000 electric bicycles since 2008.
NPA traffic division head Fang Yang-ning (方仰寧) said that regulations prohibit riding electric-powered bicycles at speeds in excess of 25kph.
However, he said that many riders make modifications to the bikes so that they can go faster, adding that most violations committed by riders are related to speeding, driving the wrong way and ignoring red lights.
According to Fang, the Ministry of the Interior receives at least 10 letters every month reporting violations perpetrated by electric bicycle riders.
However, the police have no way of issuing citations to riders, as the bikes do not need to display license plates.
MOTC Department of Railways and Highway section head Michael Tsao (趙晉緯) said that electric bicycles leaving the factory before the end of this year would be given a certificate granted by the vehicle management department. He said that the certificate would list some basic information about the users and is not equivalent to a license.
As such, electric bicycles owners are not obligated to pay license tax, he said.
Meanwhile, the MOTC is also amending the Rules on Road Traffic Safety (道路安全規則) to promote the use of helmets for electric bicycle riders.
Fang added that police would enforce relevant regulations for electric bicycles, even in scenic areas.
According to the NPA, electric bicycles are categorized as electrically powered vehicles in the Criminal Code and riders could face charges for endangering public safety if they are caught riding while intoxicated.
Drunk riders can be sentenced to up to two years in prison and face a fine of up to NT$200,000, the agency said.
The agency added that riders of illegally modified electric bicycles also face a fine of between NT$3,600 and NT$18,000.
Electric bicycle riders are also not allowed to carry passengers on the back seat, or they could be fined between NT$300 and NT$600.
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