The Ministry of Transportation and Communications on June 30 implemented regulations stipulating that drivers could be fined NT$6,000 if they do not yield to pedestrians. The new rules have been enforced effectively, and gradually, Taiwan is leaving behind the notorious reputation of being “a hell for pedestrians.”
However, rules should be reasonably implemented. Recently, in a dashcam video posted on YouTube, a driver passed through an intersection, while a pedestrian was crossing the street even though the light was red. Fortunately, although the driver, who had a green light, did not stop, the pedestrian was not hit. Nevertheless, the driver was reported and fined NT$6,000.
When drivers pass through intersections, sometimes pedestrians suddenly appear and run across the road. On such occasions, if no immediate action is taken to avoid a collision, should the drivers keep driving or slam on the brakes? Most people would keep driving.
Stopping a car abruptly might be even more dangerous, as it might lead to a multiple-vehicle pileup. Yet, when law enforcement receive reports of such incidents, the driver would still be fined NT$6,000. Of course, the driver could appeal the citation, and if that is rejected, they could file a lawsuit, but the process would be time-consuming and exhausting, and could cause the driver even more stress. The price they end up paying might be greater than their financial loss.
Drivers should abide by the law, but the bottom line is that they should obey the law and act morally. Most drivers and pedestrians are law-abiding citizens. In terms of enforcing the law, it should be carried out in conjunction with reason and compassion. The officials, drivers, pedestrians and those who report others, should act with empathy.
When pedestrians cross the road, they should refrain from using their cellphones and walk slightly faster than normal. They can nod to drivers who yield to them. This would be a friendly gesture that leads to positive vibes.
This is just like when two vehicles meet in a narrow alley. No rules have been specified which car should yield first, but both would work things out and neither would take the other’s courtesy for granted. Each driver would usually lightly honk their horn or flash their lights to indicate appreciation to the other driver. Such a small gesture is more than enough to show friendliness.
A NT$6,000 fine is far from small. Some of those who report others do so with questionable intentions, whereas some law enforcers apply traffic regulations unreasonably. The purpose of revising the traffic laws was never to create another hell for driver.
Taiwanese drivers already have to deal with a series of hazardous situations. During rush hour, a bus driver has to constantly dodge illegally parked vehicles, and if they accidentally cross the double yellow lines, it might be captured by someone’s dashcam and reported to police. When the bus finally reaches an intersection safely, it stops to wait for pedestrians to cross the road. This is the daily life for road users in Taiwan, and a hell for drivers and bus drivers.
Lin Cheng-wu is a junior-high school teacher.
Translated by Emma Liu
President William Lai (賴清德) attended a dinner held by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) when representatives from the group visited Taiwan in October. In a speech at the event, Lai highlighted similarities in the geopolitical challenges faced by Israel and Taiwan, saying that the two countries “stand on the front line against authoritarianism.” Lai noted how Taiwan had “immediately condemned” the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and had provided humanitarian aid. Lai was heavily criticized from some quarters for standing with AIPAC and Israel. On Nov. 4, the Taipei Times published an opinion article (“Speak out on the
Most Hong Kongers ignored the elections for its Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2021 and did so once again on Sunday. Unlike in 2021, moderate democrats who pledged their allegiance to Beijing were absent from the ballots this year. The electoral system overhaul is apparent revenge by Beijing for the democracy movement. On Sunday, the Hong Kong “patriots-only” election of the LegCo had a record-low turnout in the five geographical constituencies, with only 1.3 million people casting their ballots on the only seats that most Hong Kongers are eligible to vote for. Blank and invalid votes were up 50 percent from the previous
More than a week after Hondurans voted, the country still does not know who will be its next president. The Honduran National Electoral Council has not declared a winner, and the transmission of results has experienced repeated malfunctions that interrupted updates for almost 24 hours at times. The delay has become the second-longest post-electoral silence since the election of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez of the National Party in 2017, which was tainted by accusations of fraud. Once again, this has raised concerns among observers, civil society groups and the international community. The preliminary results remain close, but both
News about expanding security cooperation between Israel and Taiwan, including the visits of Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) in September and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) this month, as well as growing ties in areas such as missile defense and cybersecurity, should not be viewed as isolated events. The emphasis on missile defense, including Taiwan’s newly introduced T-Dome project, is simply the most visible sign of a deeper trend that has been taking shape quietly over the past two to three years. Taipei is seeking to expand security and defense cooperation with Israel, something officials
RSS