Traffic clogged the nation's freeways yesterday, the second day of the lunar year, when married daughters traditionally visit their parents' home.
The National Freeway Bureau said about 440,000 vehicles passed through toll booths during the toll-free period between 12am and 7am yesterday, which was 2.9 times more than the average volume of traffic on a normal weekend.
It estimated that traffic volume could top 2.7 million vehicles, 400,000 more than on Sunday, the first day of the lunar year.
By noon yesterday, heavy traffic was also reported on the southbound lanes between the Linkou (林口) and Pingjen (平鎮) interchanges, between Taichung and Changhua, on the northbound lanes between Dingjin (鼎金) interchange and Gangshan (岡山) on National Freeway No. 1, on the southbound lanes between Tucheng (土城) and Longtan (龍潭) on National Freeway No. 3, among other sections.
Because of the regulation imposed to ensure a free flow of traffic on Freeway No. 5, better known as the Hsuehshan Tunnel connecting Taipei and Yilan, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic near the Nangang (南港), Muzha (木柵) and Shihding (石碇) interchanges on the way to the southbound lanes of the tunnel.
The bureau urged the public to use the toll-free period to avoid congestion.
Asked to comment on the traffic jam, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said it was impossible not to have traffic jams during peak periods in the Lunar New Year holiday.
Wu said he hoped people would be a little more patient.
“As long as everyone is safe, which is the most important thing, and has a joyful new year holiday,” he said.
He also suggested that people struck in a traffic jam could roll down their windows and wish others in the adjacent lane a happy Lunar New Year.
“That would create a fragrance full of joy and happiness,” he said.
Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hao (李佳豪) on Sunday won a silver medal at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham, England, a career best. Lee, 25, took silver in the final of the men’s singles against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi (石宇奇) of China, who won 21-17, 21-19 in a tough match that lasted 51 minutes. After the match, the Taiwanese player, who ranks No. 22 in the world, said it felt unreal to be challenging an opponent of Shi’s caliber. “I had to be in peak form, and constantly switch my rhythm and tactics in order to score points effectively,” he said. Lee got
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