The Taipei City Government is offering subsidies of NT$1,300 for scooter driving lessons in a bid to lower accident rates.
The Taipei Department of Transportation said that the policy, which would not be limited to city residents, was due to a high rate of scooter accidents.
In addition, those who pass the exam at one of the six city-approved training facilities would not need to pay fees for roadside parking for one month, to encourage people testing for their license to do so at driving education facilities, the Taipei Parking Management and Development Office said.
Photo: CNA
Last year, scooter accidents comprised 28,000 out of 33,000 A2-type incidents in the city, defined as causing injury, or people involved passing away after 24 hours, the department said.
There were 62 A1-type incidents recorded — a category defined as causing a person to pass away within 24 hours — of which 35, or more than 20 percent, involved scooters, it said.
Accident rates for those attending scooter safety classes were 1.96 percent, compared with 4.88 percent for those who tested without taking the course, the department’s statistics showed.
Traffic Division Director Yeh Chih-hung (葉志宏) said that the Directorate-General of Highways has approved subsidies for 2,050 applicants, but the Taipei City Government would also provide funding and would accept all applications.
People who are eligible for the subsides should apply before Dec. 8, Yeh said.
The Taipei City Government is adding the Huafeng, Binjiang and Dahu driver education facilities to the list of government-approved facilities, Yeh added.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS