Following Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ policies on yielding to pedestrians, the lowest traffic-induced mortality rates in 66 months were observed in August at 200, down by 63 compared with the same period last year, the ministry said yesterday.
Meanwhile, traffic accidents from January to August totaled 268,330 incidents, up 27,295 incidents, or 11.3 percent, compared with the same period last year, Department of Railways, Highways and Road Safety Deputy Director-General Huang Yun-kui (黃運貴) said.
Total deaths from traffic accidents stood at 1,991, up by 18, or 0.9 percent, compared with the same period last year, and 359,088 injuries, up by 39,061, or 12.2 percent, Huang said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Comparing statistics from August with the same time last year, there were 32,699 traffic accidents this year, up by 1,412, or 4.5 percent, with a mortality rate of 200 deaths, down by 63, or 24 percent, marking the second-most significant decrease in traffic incident-related mortality rates since 2008, he said.
There were 1,273 scooter drivers killed in traffic incidents, comprising 63.9 percent of all deaths from January to August, but the figures were down by 11 deaths compared with the same period last year, ministry data showed.
There were 801 seniors killed in traffic incidents, or about 40.2 percent of deaths, up by 19 compared with the same period last year, ministry data showed.
The number of drivers that have died due to incidents with driving under the influence stood at 174, on par with the count from same time last year, while pedestrian deaths stood at 221, up by 1 person, ministry data showed.
Nantou County was the worst-performing county in road safety, with a death toll increase of 40, while Taipei was the worst-performing municipality in terms of pedestrian safety, with 12 pedestrian deaths, the statistics showed.
Kaohsiung was the best-performing city, with the overall death toll decreasing by 37 and pedestrian mortality rates down by 15 deaths, ministry data showed.
Separately, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kuo-tsai (王國材) yesterday said in the first half of the year, there was an increase in the amount of traffic incidents, but the second half has seen a significant improvement.
The ministry has inspected all roads regarding road safety signage and would conclude ameliorative construction projects for 703 dangerous crossings across the nation, Wang said.
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