Taiwan recorded 1,368 traffic deaths in the first half of this year, down 4.7 percent from a year earlier and 12.8 percent compared with 2023, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said yesterday.
Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Yen-po (陳彥伯) told a news conference that the figure was the third-lowest on record, behind 1,275 deaths in 2020 and 1,360 in 2018.
Pedestrian fatalities also fell to 173, the second-lowest since 2021, when 162 deaths were recorded, while fatalities among motorcyclists, drivers, young and elderly people all declined, he said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
By city, Tainan recorded the highest number of deaths at 168, followed by Kaohsiung with 152 and Taichung with 133. Tainan also posted the largest year-on-year increase, rising by 39 deaths, while Miaoli County added 16, and Keelung and Chiayi City added six each.
MOTC official Wu Tung-ling (吳東凌) said most of Tainan’s increase was linked to small vehicle crashes and elderly victims, with 30 percent of self-collision cases caused by driver fatigue or inattentiveness.
Separately, the Legislative Yuan has given preliminary approval to amendments that would toughen penalties for unlicensed driving.
Fines would be raised to NT$36,000 for motorcycles, NT$60,000 for cars and NT$80,000 for large vehicles, with the maximum penalty imposed for a second offense within 10 years.
Repeat offenders would also face additional fines of NT$12,000 for motorcycles and cars, and NT$24,000 for large vehicles.
Vehicle owners would be penalized at the same level as drivers, with license suspensions of three months for a first offense, six months for a second offense within 10 years and one year for three or more offenses.
Cases of unlicensed driving have fallen 9.8 percent since penalties were first raised in June 2023, the ministry said.
However, incidents involving unlicensed drivers last year still resulted in 523 deaths and 38,637 injuries, it said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS