TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Audit Office said more than 12,000 children in Taiwan were killed or injured in traffic accidents last year, the highest number over the past six years.
It has produced a report that shows the number of child traffic casualties has increased annually since 2022. It said the transportation ministry needs to strengthen its traffic safety efforts, per CNA.
The ministry said that it is promoting measures to enhance pedestrian safety. In June, the ministry announced that fines for drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians and cause serious injury or death will double from NT$18,000 to NT$36,000.
The ministry has also allocated NT$40 billion from last year through 2027 for pedestrian infrastructure improvements. These improvements include removing utility poles from sidewalks, leveling road surfaces, redesigning roads around school zones, reducing speed limits in alleyways, and adding signage to encourage drivers to yield to pedestrians.
Additionally, the ministry is running road safety workshops in communities and schools, and is working to establish a more comprehensive legal framework for pedestrian safety. It hopes these initiatives will help Taiwan shed its reputation as a "pedestrian hell."
CNN called Taiwan a “living hell for pedestrians” in a report published in December 2022.
Last year, Taiwan recorded 393,882 traffic accidents, resulting in 2,950 deaths, including 366 pedestrian fatalities. This marked a decrease of 73 deaths and 14 pedestrian deaths compared to 2023. Kaohsiung reported the highest number of fatalities at 311, followed by Taichung, Taoyuan, Tainan, and New Taipei, each with around 280 deaths.
However, the ministry reported 85,239 cases of pedestrians breaking the law last year, an increase of 14,000 compared to 2023.
Liu Hung-chang (劉鴻樟), chair of the drivers' rights alliance in Taiwan, noted that pedestrians who run red lights or cross roads illegally are only fined NT$500, which he argued is unfair compared to the higher fines imposed on drivers not giving way to pedestrians. He urged the government to increase penalties for pedestrians who break the law as well.
