The legislature on Tuesday passed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) that would raise fines for unlicensed driving.
Unlicensed motorcyclists would face fines of NT$18,000 to NT$36,000, while unlicensed drivers would face fines of NT$36,000 to NT$60,000. Police would also be authorized to impound vehicles on the spot.
Traffic safety has become a rare bipartisan issue, fueled by a growing desire to shed the country’s reputation as a “pedestrian hell.” A series of high-profile crashes involving unlicensed drivers has intensified calls for reform. Lawmakers have tightened rules for drunk driving, increased penalties for hitting pedestrians and are once again turning their attention to unlicensed drivers.
Yet statistics tell a discouraging story. According to the National Police Agency, there were 45,456 traffic incidents involving unlicensed drivers in 2019, resulting in 658 deaths and 65,155 injuries. By 2023, those numbers had risen to 55,492 cases, 763 deaths and nearly 79,000 injuries.
Fines were increased in 2023, but the number of incidents continued to climb. That is unsurprising — when a crime is punishable only by a fine, it punishes those who cannot afford it. Those who can simply treat it as the cost of convenience.
For many unlicensed riders, the issue is not willingness to pay a fine, but a willingness to take the risk. If the previous NT$24,000 maximum penalty failed to deter them previously, it is unlikely that a NT$36,000 one would.
If increasing fines were an effective deterrent, the problem would already be solved.
This is why the new rule allowing police to impound vehicles on the spot is among the few measures that could bring change. The threat of losing a vehicle — often borrowed from a friend or family member — creates tangible consequences that cannot simply be paid off.
Taiwan’s traffic problems also stem from lax enforcement. Harsher penalties look great on paper, but it is rare for police to verify licenses. Thus, many unlicensed drivers know the odds of getting caught are slim. Regular roadside checks or increased traffic patrols in busy areas could change that.
Accountability must also extend beyond the driver. Vehicle owners who knowingly lend their vehicles to unlicensed drivers — such as parents allowing underage children to ride scooters — are technically subject to fines and license-plate suspension, but enforcement is spotty and penalties are comparatively lighter. If they faced the same fines as drivers, they might think twice before letting others take the wheel.
Education is another missing piece. Many crashes involving unlicensed teenage riders stem from ignorance — failing to yield, misjudging traffic flow or losing control at high speed. Mandating driver education for new riders under a certain age, introducing structured road safety education in high schools and offering affordable training programs could reduce traffic incidents.
A significant share of crashes also involve elderly people. To address this, the government proposed monthly transportation subsidies for elderly people who voluntarily surrender their license — alongside lowering the age of license renewal.
Traffic safety cannot be achieved by fear of fines alone. It would require consistent enforcement, meaningful education and consequences that reach those who enable reckless behavior. Lawmakers are right to act, but fines are the least imaginative solution to a complex and growing problem. Until supervision and enforcement become routine, and education foundational, unlicensed driving is likely to continue, with everyone else paying the price.
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