TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Freeway Bureau on Monday addressed criticism of possible design flaws at the Yangmei rest stop on National Highway 1 following five self-collision accidents in the three years since its opening.
The bureau said accident data indicated the crashes were primarily caused by driver error or physical and mental conditions. It emphasized that the entrance layout and traffic facilities meet all regulatory standards, per CNA.
An electric vehicle crash and fire on Saturday evening at the rest stop left four dead and four injured, raising questions about EV safety and marking the latest in a series of single-vehicle incidents since the service area’s late 2021 opening. The accidents include a 2023 tour bus crash attributed to driver distraction and a 2022 incident where a driver using assisted driving features failed to slow down and hit water barriers.
Addressing public concerns about road design and the hardness of concrete barriers, the bureau stated that the accidents were linked to drowsy driving, distracted driving, and misuse of driving assistance systems. To improve driver awareness, the agency has implemented safety measures, including speed limit markings, reflective guardrail panels, rumble strips, and visual deceleration indicators.
On the issue of hard guardrails, the bureau explained that high freeway speeds require barriers to separate traffic from the rest stop. Cement guardrails, similar to those used on freeway medians, were installed to prevent vehicles from veering into the rest stop.
To cushion potential driver errors, the area includes water-filled traffic barrels and cones. The bureau reiterated that the section conforms to highway design regulations and will soon feature additional warning signs, enhanced channelization zones, and reflective glass markers placed every two meters for improved visibility.
It also cautioned drivers regarding driver assistance systems, emphasizing their limitations and blind spots. Drivers should remain attentive, keep their hands on the wheel, and maintain safe distances.
Lithium-battery design is the main cause of EV fires. Battery damage from severe collisions can cause short circuits and thermal runaway, leading to fire or explosion, according to Yahoo news.
EV battery fires are harder to extinguish and burn longer than those in gasoline vehicles. While data shows EVs have fewer fires per vehicle, their difficulty to manage and frequent media coverage have led to public misperceptions of risk.
Gasoline vehicle fires typically result from fuel leaks igniting on contact with sparks, while EV fires stem from lithium battery chemistry, leading to internal short circuits and sustained combustion under pressure. EV battery fires also release toxic gases and require significantly more water to extinguish.
Different lithium battery types have varying fire risks. Ternary lithium batteries are more prone to immediate ignition from internal short circuits, while lithium iron phosphate batteries are relatively safer with less severe impacts.
