A recent study conducted by a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker revealed that there are no motorcycle helmets available in Taiwan for children under five which meet the necessary safety standards.
The study by DPP Legislator Huang Kuo-shu (黃國書) was released just days after an accident in Taichung in which an allegedly drunk driver crashed into a motorcycle carrying a man surnamed Chen (陳) and his son, knocking the two-year-old onto the street, where he was killed by a wound from a bolt attaching a streetlight to the ground.
“Of all the helmets approved by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, the smallest one is designed for children with a head circumference of 50cm, which in an average child would mean they were five or older,” Huang’s office said.
Photo: Huang Chung-shan, Taipei Times
“That means the parents of children under the age of five are unable to purchase a helmet that is proven to be capable of protecting their children,” it said.
Huang said some parents have bought bicycle helmets for their children, but this violates the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), which stipulates that only helmets specifically designed to be used on motorcycles or motorbikes meet the necessary standards.
According to the Taichung Police Department, children not wearing a helmet, or those wearing helmets not designed to be worn on motorcycles — such as construction safety helmets — could incur a NT$500 fine.
Photo: Chang Jui-chen, Taipei Times
The bureau said the nation’s 50cm minimum head circumference standard for helmets met international standards and that specialists invited to re-evaluate the stipulation in 2012 advised against revising the size downward.
“They feared that children under the age of five might suffer spinal damage if they are carried on motorcycles, as their necks and spines are still developing and might not be strong enough to bear movements such as braking,” the bureau said.
Jing Chuan Child Safety Foundation chief executive Lin Yueh-chin (林月琴) said the foundation has repeatedly advised parents against carrying children below the age of five on motorcycles, because the vehicle does not provide any form of protection like a car does.
“Those carrying children aged five or older are also urged to travel at a speed below 30kph and to avoid main roads,” Lin said.
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
RSS