Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians would face fines of up to NT$6,000, after a legislative amendment passed by legislature yesterday.
If a driver hits a pedestrian near a crosswalk or a similar legal crossing, injuring or killing the person, they would face fines of NT$7,200 to NT$36,000, the amendment to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通觀禮處罰條例) says.
If such an incident results in injury, the driver might have their license suspended for one year or, if it results in the death of a pedestrian, have their license revoked, the amendment says.
Photo: CNA
Drivers who fail to secure their luggage, resulting in it falling from their vehicle, would face fines of NT$1,000 to NT$6,000, it says.
If falling luggage leads to an incident in which another person is injured, they would additionally receive a warning or have their license suspended, or if a person dies, have their license revoked, it says.
The amendment also relaxes regulations on people filing reports about illegal parking on sidewalks, crossings or fast lanes.
The amendment raises the fines for illegal U-turns, and reversing or driving on the opposite lane on an expressway to NT$36,000.
The amendment doubles the criminal penalties for tailgating or engaging in a road race that causes an incident in which a person is injured or dies.
The amendment doubles the maximum fine for driving without a license to NT$24,000, stipulating that people who are caught driving without a license twice within five years would be fined that amount.
Unlicensed drivers who cause an incident injuring or killing another person would have their vehicle impounded, it says.
People whose license has been suspended or revoked after a drunk driving offense would face an additional fine of NT$12,000 if they are found riding a scooter or driving a small vehicle, or NT$40,000 if they are found driving a large vehicle, it says.
The definition of severe speeding has also been amended to 40km above the speed limit, down from 60km above the limit, while maximum fines have been raised to NT$36,000, up from NT$24,000.
The amendment also extends the penalty point system’s accrual period from six months to one year.
Under the new system, drivers accruing 12 or more penalty points within a year would have their license suspended for two months, up from one month for six penalty points.
The amendment stipulates that drivers could attend road safety courses to reduce up to two penalty points per year.
NPP REACTIONS
New Power Party (NPP) Chairwoman Claire Wang (王婉諭) said that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications should urge vehicle license holders to additionally take a scooter license test before riding a scooter.
The ministry considers experienced drivers able to ride a scooter, Wang said.
However, the ministry should prioritize safety instead of being afraid of causing difficulty for the public, Wang said.
NPP Legislator Chiu Hsieh-chih (邱顯智) said that the frequency with which traffic law amendments are passed shows that the legislature reacts to changes in public opinion.
However, such laws should be amended more cautiously to more effectively prevent traffic incidents, Chiu said.
Separately, the legislature also passed an amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (環境影響評估法), stipulating that the revocation of a development permit would also invalidate the project’s environmental impact assessment report.
Reports issued after June 2019 would be required to have an expiry date, the amendment says.
If construction has not begun within a decade of the report being issued, it would be invalidated, it says.
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