Highway Bureau criticized over driving tests 'pointing and calling'

Taipei, April 29 (CNA) Several road safety groups criticized the Highway Bureau on Tuesday for its plan to introduce a mandatory "pointing and calling" requirement in driving tests, saying the "stupid" regulation lacked consensus from civil groups and could compromise traffic safety.

After a meeting with road safety groups last Friday, Highway Bureau officials told the press that the driving test for sedans -- or small passenger cars -- would include a new "pointing and calling" requirement starting June 2, Luna Chen (陳愷寧), chairperson of the Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance, said at a news conference in Taipei.

Learner drivers who fail to perform the newly required action during the test will not pass, she added.

"Everyone agrees this is a stupid regulation, yet the government rushed to make the decision and even issued a press release using civil groups as endorsement tools," Chen said.

She criticized the Highway Bureau -- the government agency responsible for overseeing driving tests and issuing driver's licenses -- for showing "a complete lack of respect" toward civil groups.

"Pointing and calling" is a safety confirmation method that originated in Japan, involving gesture and verbal confirmation to prevent operational errors, according to a social media post by Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) last October.

On Taiwan's roads, currently only drivers of certain bus lines are required to perform such checks -- stopping their vehicles, pointing to the left, front, and right, and verbally confirming that no pedestrians are present -- before turning at intersections, said Teddy Lin (林柏勛), a member of the alliance.

Lin said that even drivers of large trucks have only been asked to follow a non-mandatory government campaign to stop before turning since last August, with no requirement for "pointing and calling" checks.

"In Europe and the United States, where driving behavior is more strictly regulated, drivers are only required to perform a head turn to check, commonly known as a 'shoulder check,'" he added.

His alliance opposes the new requirement for sedans, Lin said, arguing that it would not only be difficult to enforce but also disrupt smooth traffic flow, thereby compromising safety.

Echoing Lin, Roy Lo (羅宜), a member of the Taiwan Motorcycle Rights Promotion Association, said that requiring more vehicles to perform "pointing and calling" would significantly slow down traffic.

Lo questioned, "How many cars would even be able to pass through a single traffic light cycle under such conditions?"

Lin suggested that all drivers should be required to perform "shoulder checks" at intersections and crosswalks and check their blind spots -- steps that are not clearly mandated under the current regulations.

In response, the Highway Bureau issued a statement on Monday that the new "pointing and calling" requirement for the sedan driving test was only under "internal discussion," and that June 2 was merely a "proposed" implementation date, not an officially finalized one.

Taking into account "differing public opinions," the bureau said it would continue to consult with relevant stakeholders and review the policy as needed to ensure it "better meets practical needs."

The bureau did not ask civil groups to endorse the new requirement, it added.