Tue, Jul 23, 2002 page2

• Traffic plan creates friction

  BADLY INFORMED After hearing that road signs he wants installed already exist, PFP lawmaker Sun Ta-chien indicated that if they do, they should be improved

  • By Chang Yu-jung / STAFF REPORTER
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  As the nation's transportation bureau prepares to enforce toll-booth regulations that have been in place since 1974, a dispute emerged yesterday over related proposals from a PFP legislator.

  The plan to begin on Aug. 1, calls for the enforcement of rules requiring drivers who enter toll booths through the wrong lane to pay a NT$3,000 fine.

  

  PFP Legislator Sun Ta-chien slams the Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday for its plan to mete out NT$3,000 fines to motorists who enter the wrong lane at highway toll stations.

  PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

  PFP lawmaker Sun Ta-chien (孫大千) called for clearer warning signs ahead of toll booths directing drivers to the correct lanes. After being told that the signs already exist, Sun responded that if that is the case, then the signs lack the necessary clarity and should be improved.

  The Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau (TANFB, 國道高速公路局) announced on July 9 that beginning in August, the bureau would enforce regulations requiring vehicles passing through toll booths to stick to the appropriate lanes, some of which are designated for small or large vehicles holding pre-paid toll tickets and others which are for small vehicles wishing to pay cash.

  Small vehicles include cars, vans, minibuses or trucks below 3.5 tonnes while large vehicles include trucks above 3.5 tonnes, buses, and tankers.

  At a press conference yesterday, Sun said that warning signs should be posted up 0.5km to 1km before each toll station, so that drivers have sufficient time to change to the correct lane before entering the toll booths.

  "If the bureau wants to impose such high penalties on drivers violating the regulation, it should put up clear signs warning drivers at least 500m before the toll stations."

  A TANFB spokesman responded that there are warning signs in place 300m to 500m ahead of each toll station.

  In fact, sign posts informing drivers of approaching toll stations also exist at 2km and 1km ahead of each toll station.

  Sun responded, "Well, then, the existing sign posts are not clear enough."

  Wu Mu-fu (吳木富) deputy section chief of TANFB, however, rejected the call, saying, "We have even added red warning signs at about 300m ahead of each station to remind drivers to pass through the booths in the correct lane."

  At the toll station, to help drivers delineate the different lanes more easily, blue signs with white lettering indicate prepaid ticket booths while booths accepting cash are have blue lettering on yellow-green signs.

  Wu also stressed that drivers of small vehicles are allowed to pass the cash booths with prepaid tickets.

  "Those with prepaid tickets have more privileges, because we would like to encourage drivers to use them to speed traffic through the tolls," he said.

  Prepaid tickets can be purchased from cash booths and service stations on the freeway and at post offices and gasoline stations.

  The purpose of the regulation, according to the TANFB, is to ensure optimal traffic flow and safety around toll stations.

  "This is not a new regulation," said Wu, telling reporters that the regulation has existed ever since the first freeway was built.

  "But the problem of drivers passing through the wrong lane at toll booths has become more serious as the traffic has gotten more crowded on the freeways. The chaos in front of the toll stations not only threatens drivers. Service women at the booths have also been injured," he said.
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