TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Two major railway unions in Taiwan are opposing a transportation ministry initiative to install surveillance cameras in train driver cabins.
The push for the cameras was proposed by the Transportation Safety Board following the 2018 Puyuma train derailment, an accident that left 18 people dead and 215 injured. The investigation identified the cause as the driver turning off the automatic protection system and speeding, per CNA.
Taiwan Railway recorded eight incidents of trains entering stations at excessive speeds in the first half of this year, which resulted in improper stopping positions. In April, a Taiwan High Speed Rail train departed Banqiao Station without opening its doors due to human error, leaving about 170 passengers unable to board or disembark.
Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said that to protect privacy, only hand movements on the control panel will be recorded. He added the ministry will continue communicating with the labor unions and railway companies.
The ministry said the goal of installing cameras is to ensure objective accident investigations, rather than relying on driver testimony and speculation when determining responsibility.
According to the Taiwan High Speed Rail Labor Union, black boxes have been installed on trains to investigate accidents. The union said the ministry has ordered Taiwan High Speed Rail to complete the installations by a set deadline, adding that it will launch a protest if the policy moves forward.
Chen Yu-ting (陳郁婷), chair of the union, said that high-speed trains around the world use black boxes to interpret and analyze accidents. The data recorded by these devices is far more comprehensive than that of surveillance cameras. She noted that installing cameras does little to prevent accidents, while invading drivers’ privacy and increasing operational costs.
The Taiwan Railway Labor Union also expressed strong opposition to the initiative, saying that constant surveillance while on duty would place additional stress on drivers.
