The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday released national traffic accident statistics for last year, with pedestrian fatalities and overall fatalities decreasing compared with 2023.
The ministry releases traffic safety statistics for each city and county every month, with current statistics updated through December last year, and as Taiwan has been dubbed a “pedestrian hell” because people are often injured when crossing the street, pedestrian safety was a key concern for the public.
The ministry said a total of 393,918 traffic accidents were reported last year, and there were 2,950 deaths occurring within 30 days of a traffic accident, 73 deaths lower than the previous year, and the lowest in three years.
Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei Times
The ministry uses deaths within 30 days of traffic accidents, rather than deaths within 24 hours, as the standard for its statistics on fatalities and injuries caused by traffic accidents.
A total of 366 pedestrians died in traffic related accidents last year, a decrease of 14 people from the previous year, and the lowest number since 2008, according to the ministry’s statistics.
Taichung maintained its reputation as a “pedestrian hell” with 55 pedestrian fatalities last year, the most of any city or county, the ministry said.
Taoyuan came in second with 47 pedestrian fatalities, followed by New Taipei City with 42, it said.
On traffic-related deaths, Kaohsiung had the worst overall performance, with 310 traffic-related fatalities last year, the ministry said.
Taichung came in second with 288 fatalities, followed by Taoyuan with 287, it said.
Considering fatalities per 10,000 people, Pingtung County had the highest rate at 27.1 fatalities, followed by Taitung County with 26.2.
“We are still not satisfied, but the situation is improving,” said Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱), emphasizing that pedestrian and overall traffic fatalities went down last year.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS