The number of traffic incidents and related deaths has dropped amid an increase in the use of transportation-related technology, the National Police Agency (NPA) said on Saturday, urging the government to boost efforts to install newer equipment such as smart speed monitors, infrared systems and better cameras.
Compared with the same time last year, the number of traffic incidents decreased by 189, and deaths and injuries as a result of crashes dropped by 74, the NPA said.
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) in January instructed the NPA to acquire better equipment and implement training for police officers to enhance their ability to enforce the law through technology, the agency said.
Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei Times
The government would help by providing equipment and implementing measures aimed at preventing or reducing the number of vehicles that crash into highway police or work crews, it said.
The directive came about after multiple highway police officers died in the line of duty, the agency said, adding that it has authorized the Highway Police Bureau to rent three additional truck-mounted attenuators, which are attached to the rear of a truck to reduce the impact of a collision.
The NPA said it had also assisted local police in New Taipei City and others to rent a total of 15 more truck-mounted attenuators, adding that from Oct. 27, truck-mounted attenuators would begin to be used nationwide.
Truck-mounted attenuators would help protect traffic police while performing their duties, the agency said.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications, local governments and the Executive Yuan have provided funding for the installation of intelligent traffic equipment in 265 locations, it said, adding that installations had been completed at 188 or those locations by the end of last month.
The NPA said speed cameras for 45 regional speed monitoring sections have been up and running since June.
Cameras on the 45 sections had been suspended since January last year due to the use of Chinese equipment, which posed national security risks, or because of other faulty hardware, it said.
The NPA continually revises traffic safety measures to ensure road safety for all, it said, urging people to get into the habit of following traffic regulations.
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