TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Road safety in Taoyuan and Taichung are unsatisfactory the transport ministry said on Friday (Oct. 25), calling on both cities to prepare a report for the central government on the issue.
The transport ministry said the cities will make their presentations when the Cabinet meets for its Central Road Traffic Safety Report in November, per CNA. It said the two cities have been asked to prepare reports because deaths have increased in Taoyuan for four consecutive months, and in September a college student died in Taichung when she was hit by a bus crossing the road.
It said that traffic deaths in Taoyuan increased by three, two, seven, and 17 people respectively between April and the end of July, compared to the same period in 2023. The Taichung student was struck and killed crossing the road on Sept. 27.
The ministry added that it has asked the cities to prepare reports as there has been no improvement in road safety despite the assistance it has provided.
The ministry said the Freeway Bureau has also been asked to report to the Cabinet’s committee in November to explain increased deaths on national highways.
According to transport ministry statistics, there were 2,076 traffic accidents on national highways between January and July, which is 54 more than the same period in 2023. Deaths on national highways also increased by six compared to the same period last year, to 52 people.
The ministry issued the order to the cities to prepare the reports at a weekly road safety briefing. At the briefing, it said the most traffic-related deaths between January and October occurred in Taoyuan (137 deaths), Tainan (127 deaths), New Taipei (122 deaths), and Pingtung (110 deaths).
