Fri, Nov 10, 2023 page3

• Road safety group objects to ministry backpedaling

  BACKLASH: The MOTC backed off on penalties such as points for driving professionals, while also easing up on parking rules, leading to flak from road safety civic groups

  • By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
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  Vision Zero Alliance yesterday voiced strong objection to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ (MOTC) decision to temporarily halt the enforcement of a point system for traffic violations, adding that it might stage another protest before the January elections.

  The alliance yesterday organized a protest at a side entrance to the legislature in Taipei.

  MOTC Minister Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) had pledged to give children a safe way home at the alliance’s parade on Aug. 20, but he has since backtracked from his promise, the alliance said.

  

  Members of the Vision Zero Alliance protest outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times

  “This has proven yet again that transportation officials might feel apologetic for victims of traffic accidents one day, but forget all about it the next. Wang changed his tune about the point system, which had only been enforced for four months, simply because of opposition from certain groups,” the alliance in a statement.

  Amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) passed by the legislature in May allow for temporary parking in zones with red or yellow lines; people cannot report drivers to the police for temporary parking in these zones and drivers would not be penalized with points.

  “Following the amendment, people can only report traffic violations that adversely affect the flow of traffic and pedestrians, including failure to stop and yield to pedestrians, double parking, or parking on sidewalks, near fire hydrants, at bus stops and in intersections,” the alliance said.

  “As these disrupt traffic and endanger pedestrians, it is perfectly legitimate to fine and give points to drivers who commit these violations. Such a policy can also help take bad drivers off the roads,” it added.

  The ministry announced earlier this week that it would suspend enforcement of the point system until all supportive measures are in place, including increasing the number of yellow-line zones.

  The ministry’s decision came after it received multiple complaints from drivers of taxis, buses and cargo trucks who have been repeatedly fined and given points for temporary parking in zones with red lines, which has hurt their incomes.

  They have also complained that local governments have failed to provide adequate temporary parking or yellow-line zones.

  The alliance said increasing the number of yellow-line zones should be a transitional measure, and the ministry should address the lack of temporary parking spaces through construction and education, rather than simply passing off responsibility to law enforcement.

  For example, the alliance suggested that the Ministry of Economic Affairs require that convenience store chains build unloading zones whenever they open new stores. Pedestrians, cyclists and people in wheelchairs are often forced to walk in outer road lanes whenever trucks unload goods, the alliance said.

  The government should re-examine the width of road lanes nationwide and rearrange parking and temporary parking spaces, while people should be educated about the danger of hailing taxis at street corners and other risky places.

  “The Democratic Progressive Party must be determined in proceeding with reform to clear the country of its reputation of being a ‘living hell for pedestrians,’” the alliance said. “The MOTC should not compromise people’s safety for the sake of convenience, and Wang should resign if he cannot stand the pressure from interest groups.”

  The ministry said in a statement yesterday that it would neither change the point system nor stop people from reporting traffic violations, adding that it would address the issue through construction and education, as the alliance suggested.

  “Illegal temporary parking by passenger and cargo vehicles and illegal parking on covered walkways are all punishable behaviors, but there is indeed an insufficient number of temporary parking spaces in different localities, and there are regional differences in the management of covered walkways. It takes time and supportive measures to address these problems,” the ministry said.

  Before proper supportive measures are in place, drivers would be fined for illegal parking, but they would not be given penalty points, it said.

  Drivers previously would have received one point for illegal temporary parking or parking on covered walkways, and their licenses would be suspended for two months if they accumulated 12 points in one year.

  As transitional measures, local governments are encouraged to have yellow lines drawn or have a designated temporary parking space every 100m or 150m along red lines, the ministry said.

  Drivers who illegally park on covered walkways would not receive points if they leave space for pedestrians, but they would still be fined, it said, adding that warnings would be given for parking on covered walkways from 12am to 6pm.

  Police would only fine drivers if there are photographs or videos showing that their temporary parking disrupts the flow of traffic and pedestrians, the ministry said.
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