The number of pedestrians killed in traffic-related accidents during the first quarter of this year was 15.5 percent higher than the same period last year, data released on Friday by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications showed.
From January to March, Taiwan reported 97,436 traffic-related accidents, down by 5,554, or 5.4 percent, from the same period last year, said the ministry.
However, the traffic accidents also resulted in 772 deaths, of which 119 involved pedestrians, a 15.5 percent rise from last year, it added.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
The ministry said 69 percent of the 119 deaths involved pedestrians being hit by a vehicle, of which 73.1 percent were elderly people.
Most of the fatal accidents took place from 4am to 8am, and from 6pm to 8pm, it said.
The main causes were drivers failing to give way to pedestrians at intersections or pedestrians crossing the street outside marked crossings, the ministry said.
The number of pedestrian fatalities at road intersections decreased last year when Taiwan enhanced the enforcement of its traffic laws, the ministry said.
However, some motorists are yet to develop the habit of yielding, and over time, the number of accidents has increased again, it added.
Tsai Shu-pin (蔡書彬), the ministry’s Department of Railways, Highways and Road Safety deputy chief, said local governments have been told to strengthen their efforts to improve traffic safety.
This includes raising public awareness about respecting traffic rules, and requiring police officers to step up law enforcement, Tsai said.
Local governments have been told to stop using flashing signals at intersections early in the morning, he said, adding that they should instead use a traffic light system with red, amber and green signals.
Despite the rise in pedestrian deaths during the first quarter, the 772 total deaths due to traffic-related accidents was a 4.8-percent reduction compared with the same period last year, while the number of injured also declined by 5.6 percent to 130,364, the data showed.
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