This May, Tainan was shaken by a tragic incident: a left-turning vehicle struck a mother and her child crossing the road, claiming the life of the three-year-old and leaving the mother critically injured. This event emphasized the urgent call for traffic reform, which had already been highlighted by CNN’s classification of Taiwan as a “pedestrian hell.”
What exactly is responsible for Taiwan’s traffic nightmare? Sidewalks, narrow and filled with vehicles, leave pedestrians with little choice but to venture onto roads, where they often compete for right-of-way against vehicles. Compounding this chaos are the prevailing and flagrant disregard for traffic regulations, risky driving habits and the acute lack of road education.
For possible solutions, Taiwan could look overseas to Japan and its policy of regulating legal vehicle ownership. In Tokyo, where the rules are rigorously applied, drivers must be subject to thorough biennial vehicle inspections. They are also burdened by substantial taxes, and required to provide proof of a parking space prior to even purchasing a car. This demanding environment has encouraged a transition toward more sustainable transportation methods, such as public transit and walking.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash / 照片：Unsplash提供
Were Taiwan to embrace more advanced approaches, such as by implementing Australia’s progressive licensing system, traffic chaos could be reduced. This system contrasts with Taiwan’s rather inadequate licensing practice, ensuring that only individuals demonstrating adequate competence and safety consciousness are granted permission to drive on public roads. In a thorough process that extends for a minimum of three years, novice drivers in Australia, upon passing an initial test, are issued a speed-limited provisional license. They are then required to pass a series of further tests to obtain a full license.
Indeed, while it’s the government’s obligation to improve infrastructure and devise comprehensive policies, citizens also need to contribute. If everyone prioritizes road safety, Taiwan may shed its negative reputation and transform itself into a pedestrian paradise.
行人的地獄還是天堂 臺灣交通改革的路在何方？
今年五月，臺南發生了一起悲慘的事故：一輛左轉的汽車撞到一名正在過馬路的母親和她的孩子，導致該名三歲的孩童喪命，而母親則身受重傷。這一事件再度凸顯出交通改革的迫切性，這個在之前 CNN 將臺灣列為「行人地獄」時就已突顯的問題。
究竟是什麼因素造成了臺灣的交通惡夢？狹窄且滿是車輛的人行道，使行人別無選擇，不得不冒險走上馬路，常常需要與車輛爭奪路權。加劇這一混亂的還有對交通法規普遍且公然的無視、危險的駕駛習慣，以及道路教育的嚴重缺乏。
對於可能的解決方案，臺灣可以放眼海外借鑑日本的政策，對合法擁有車輛進行規範。在嚴格執行規範的東京，駕駛人必須接受每兩年一次的全面車輛檢驗。他們還需要支付相當高的稅金，並在購買汽車之前就必須提供停車位的證明。這種要求嚴格的環境促使人們轉向更可持續的交通方式，例如大眾運輸和步行。
如果臺灣能夠採取更先進的方式，例如實施澳洲的漸進式駕照考試制度，交通混亂可能會減少。這一制度與臺灣相對不完善的駕駛訓練形成鮮明對比，確保只有證明自己有足夠能力和安全意識的人才能得到在公共道路上駕駛的許可。在一個最少為期三年的整體過程中，澳洲的新手駕駛人通過初試後，會被發放一張限速的臨時駕照。然後他們還必須通過一系列進一步的考試才能夠獲得正式駕照。
的確，改善基礎設施並制定全面的政策是政府的義務，但公民也需要做出貢獻。如果每個人都優先考慮道路安全，臺灣就有可能擺脫其負面形象，成為行人的天堂。
MORE INFORMATION
right-of-way n. 通行權
flagrant adj. 公然的；明目張膽的
biennial adj. 兩年一次的
lessen v. 降低；減輕
novice n. 新手；初學者
provisional adj. 臨時的；暫定的
infrastructure n. 基礎建設
KEY VOCABULARY
1. pedestrian n. 行人
The crazy driver was speeding and weaving in and out of lanes and almost hit a pedestrian.
那名瘋狂的駕駛超速並在小巷間穿梭，差點撞到一名行人。
2. compound v. 加劇；惡化；混合
The slow production pace due to workers that were off sick was only compounded by supplies not arriving on time.
由於工人生病導致生產速度緩慢，供給未能準時到達更是讓情況雪上加霜。
3. acute adj. 嚴重的；劇烈的；敏銳的
Unemployment in this region is an acute problem and needs to be addressed immediately.
失業在這個地區是一項嚴重的問題，必須馬上著手處理。
4. rigorously adv. 嚴格地；縝密地
The athletes trained rigorously for months to prepare for the upcoming competition.
這些運動員們為了準備即將到來的比賽而嚴格訓練了數個月。
5. transit n. 運輸；運送
transition n. 轉變；過渡
Many cities are investing in improving their public transit systems to reduce traffic jams.
許多城市正在投資改善大眾運輸系統，以降低交通壅塞。
6. implement vt. 實施；貫徹
The government lost support as it failed to implement most of the policies it had proposed.
該政府因未能實施其提出的大部分政策而失去了支持。
7. progressive adj. 逐漸的；先進的
The patient showed a progressive improvement in health after starting the new treatment.
病人開始新的治療後，健康狀況顯示出逐漸改善的趨勢。
8. comprehensive adj. 全面的；詳盡的
The company offers a comprehensive training program to equip employees with necessary skills.
公司提供全面的培訓計畫來訓練員工所需的技能。
9. shed v. 擺脫；去除；脫落（三態 shed-shed-shed）
Megan managed to shed her fears and gave a fantastic performance on stage.
梅根成功地克服了恐懼，並在舞台上給出了精彩的表演。
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