New Power Party (NPP) lawmakers yesterday called for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to set a goal to achieve zero deaths by traffic accidents by 2050.
The number of deaths per accident should gauge the efficacy of the ministry’s action plan for transportation safety, NPP Chairperson and Legislator Claire Wang (王婉諭) said.
Throughout this month, the party held weekly street-side talks and small gatherings, as well as inspections of accident-prone locations, she said.
Photo: CNA
NPP Legislator Chiu Hsieh-chih (邱顯智) said that people can take a driving test at the age of 18 and hold a license for perpetuity, but there are no regulations to ensure the continued competency of the license holder.
The ministry has refused to amend legislation to lower the height of side underride guards for trucks from 40cm above the ground to 20cm, which could potentially save hundreds of lives per year, Chiu said.
The ministry is shirking its responsibility with its inaction, he said.
NPP member Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) said that according to the ministry’s latest statistics, deaths from traffic accidents have increased compared with the same period last year, which shows that the ministry’s current laws do not increase pedestrian safety, so new laws should be passed.
The statistics showed 133,972 traffic incidents from January to April this year, resulting in 1,039 deaths and 179,930 injuries — an increase of 1,967 incidents, 62 deaths and 16,185 injuries compared with the same period last year.
Some local governments have failed to improve pedestrian crossings and pathways, Chen said, urging the passage of a basic act on transportation safety, which would mandate local governments to act.
For amendments to be passed this year, the ministry should put forward bills to the Executive Yuan for review before the next legislative session convenes on Sept. 1, she said.
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