INTERVIEW/Fines for injuring, killing pedestrians to rise: Transport minister

Taipei, March 12 (CNA) A law revision will be initiated this year to increase the financial penalties for drivers who injure or kill pedestrians, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said Wednesday.

In an interview with CNA, Chen said that the penalty for causing minor injuries will be increased from the current NT$7,200 (US$218) to NT$18,000, while causing serious injuries or deaths will result in a uniform fine of NT$36,000.

The original one-year license suspension for causing minor injuries will be increased to one to two years, while the three-year driving ban for causing serious injuries or deaths will be increased to four to five years, the minister said.

Under the current rules of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, drivers face a potential fine ranging from NT$7,200 to NT$36,000 for killing or seriously injuring a pedestrian.

"Injuries and deaths on crosswalks are a national disgrace," said Chen, adding that drivers "should [...] stop and give way."

In Taiwan, unlike many other developed countries with fewer per-capita pedestrian deaths, drivers can drive through urban crosswalks at intersections when making a right turn -- even when pedestrians have a green light to cross.

According to official data, 2,675 people, including 332 pedestrians, died in traffic accidents from January to November last year in Taiwan, which has a population of 23.4 million.

During his first appearance as head of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) at the Legislature in September last year, Chen said 21 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred as a result of drivers hitting them as they walk across crosswalks during the pedestrian green light phase.

"Although Taiwan has the same standards as Japan for stop lines and crossings at intersections, Taiwanese driving habits are not as good," the transport minister said.

Chen, who has been head of the MOTC since August 2024, also admitted to sometimes feeling "scared" when crossing the road, before saying that legislative work to strengthen traffic regulations at intersections will be completed in June.

In addition to increasing penalties for traffic violations that cause injury or death, Chen told CNA that three further measures will be introduced to improve pedestrian safety.

First, the distance between the vehicle stop line and the pedestrian crossing at intersections will be increased to 2-3 meters from the currently stipulated 1-3 meters.

Second, intersection lighting will be improved, based on data suggesting that the accident rate falls by around two-thirds at intersections with white street lighting. Chen said that the MOTC will conduct a trial at 12 or 13 intersections, before expanding coverage.

Third, guidance on tinted windows and windshields -- which Chen said can inhibit visibility, especially at night -- will be introduced based on levels of visible light transmission.