TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) unveiled a comprehensive road safety initiative on Monday (May 26) following a serious traffic incident near Bei Da Elementary School (北大國小) in Sanxia District (三峽區), a suburban area of New Taipei City. During his announcement, Cho acknowledged the swift coordination between the New Taipei City Government and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛生福利部), Taiwan's national health agency.
Data from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部), Taiwan's transportation authority, indicates a nationwide reduction in traffic accidents during the first two months of 2025 compared to previous years, though child-related fatalities have alarmingly increased during the same period. The Premier has directed multiple government agencies to develop targeted prevention strategies in response to these findings. While Changhua County, a central Taiwan region, has recorded fewer overall traffic deaths, senior citizens continue to face disproportionate risks, leading Cho to advocate for specialized safety education programs focused on vulnerable populations.
The Premier has directed the Highway Bureau (公路局), the agency overseeing Taiwan's national roadways, to redesign intersections with insufficient clearance — specifically those with less than 1 meter (approximately 3.3 feet) of space — to create larger buffer zones between vehicles and pedestrians. This infrastructure overhaul will be complemented by enhanced crosswalk illumination systems and stricter enforcement of regulations governing the transparency of automotive window tinting, which officials believe will improve driver visibility and reduce accidents.
In his closing remarks, Cho underscored the critical importance of central-local government cooperation in executing these safety enhancements across Taiwan's transportation network. The administration has established an ambitious target of reducing traffic-related deaths by 15% from 2023 levels, representing potentially hundreds of lives saved annually. "These comprehensive measures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting all road users," the Premier noted, as his administration prepares to roll out what officials describe as the most extensive road safety overhaul in recent years. ◼