The government is launching a road improvement project to better protect pedestrians after deaths from road accidents reached the highest in a decade, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said on Friday.
Taiwan reported 375,632 road accidents that resulted in 3,085 deaths and 498,887 injuries per 30 days last year, a 4 percent increase from a year earlier, a ministry spokesperson told a news conference.
The average number of people killed last year in road accidents per 30 days exceeded 200 in Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, New Taipei City and Taoyuan, and Changhua and Pingtung counties, they said.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo.
Deaths from road accidents involving motorbikes increased 8.1 percent, and deaths of elderly people from road accidents increased 12 percent from a year earlier, although deaths related to drunk driving decreased by 12.9 percent, they said.
The ministry is planning a slew of engineering projects to improve traffic safety, focusing on the ease and speed of implementation, Wang said, adding that roads need to urgently shed the reputation of being a “living hell” for pedestrians.
Leveling the ground in pedestrian arcades, reducing the space allocated to vehicles at intersections, widening crosswalks and installing pedestrian safety islands are among proposals that can be quickly carried out by local governments, he said.
The ministry has prepared a list of improvements that revolve around separating pedestrian and vehicle traffic, reducing conflict between pedestrians and drivers, increasing parking spaces and only allowing parking on one side of the street, the Institute of Transportation said.
Separation of pedestrians and traffic, and reducing vehicle-pedestrian conflict are the guiding principles of the road improvement plan, Wang said, citing studies by the Institute of Transportation.
Main roads would benefit from curb cuts, parking bans within 10m of crosswalks, level surfaces in arcades and increased space for pedestrians, Wang said.
The plan stipulates that intersections should utilize extended curbs, remove 3m to 5m between crossways and road corners, and walkway lighting should be improved, he said.
Smaller lanes can designate sidewalks with lines on which parking is not allowed, and parking can be restricted to only one side of the street when appropriate, he said.
Vehicles and pedestrians should be allocated a window of time for exclusive use of the road, and the time designated for each should be clearly indicated, Wang said, adding that yielding to pedestrians would be enforced.
The ministry is working with bus companies to ensure driver compliance with rules, he said, adding that NT$5 billion (US$164.5 million) of ministry funding has been allocated this year to boost student safety on roads near 446 schools, while local governments would receive NT$9.8 billion from a “far vision infrastructure plan” to improve accessibility, he said.
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, would pose a steep challenge to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself against a full-scale invasion, a defense expert said yesterday. Institute of National Defense and Security Research analyst Chieh Chung (揭仲) made the comment hours after the PLAN confirmed the carrier recently passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct “scientific research tests and training missions” in the South China Sea. China has two carriers in operation — the Liaoning and the Shandong — with the Fujian undergoing sea trials. Although the PLAN needs time to train the Fujian’s air wing and
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS