Taoyuan posted the largest increase in deaths from traffic incidents in the first nine months of this year, while Taichung had the most pedestrian deaths, Ministry of Transportation and Communications data showed yesterday.
The number of people who died within 30 days of a traffic incident in Taoyuan rose by 47 from the same period last year, including 32 motorcyclists, the data showed.
Deaths recorded in drunk-driving incidents in the special municipality rose by 11, the data showed.
Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei Times
Taichung reported 38 pedestrian deaths in the first three quarters, the most in the nation, followed by 36 in Taoyuan, the data showed.
The largest increase in pedestrian deaths was in Hsinchu City, up 11 from last year, the ministry said.
The number of traffic-related deaths among elderly people rose by 14 in New Taipei City, the greatest increase in the nation, it said.
Pingtung County had the highest rate of deaths within 30 days of traffic incidents, deaths of motorcyclists and deaths of elderly people in traffic incidents, it said.
Chiayi City had the highest pedestrian death rate, while Taitung County’s drunk-driving death rate was the highest across the nation, the ministry said.
However, the number of deaths within 30 days of traffic incidents nationwide fell in the first three quarters from the same period last year, down by 61, or 2.7 percent, the ministry said.
Deaths among motorcyclists declined 2.3 percent, while deaths in drunk-driving incidents, and those of children and teenagers dropped 40.5 percent and 13.1 percent respectively, it added.
Deaths among elderly people and pedestrians slid 0.4 percent and 1.6 percent respectively, it said.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said that he was dissatisfied with the results, despite the decreases.
The ministry would invite transportation officials in Taoyuan to explain to the public its results, Chen said.
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was questioned by prosecutors for allegedly orchestrating an attack on a taxi driver after he was allegedly driven on a longer than necessary route in a car he disliked. The questioning at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office was ongoing as of press time last night. Police have recommended charges of attempted murder. The legally embattled actor — known for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代) — is under a separate investigation for allegedly using fake medical documents to evade mandatory military service. According to local media reports, police said Wang earlier last year ordered a
CAUTION: Based on intelligence from the nation’s security agencies, MOFA has cautioned Taiwanese travelers about heightened safety risks in China-friendly countries The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged Taiwanese to be aware of their safety when traveling abroad, especially in countries that are friendly to China. China in June last year issued 22 guidelines that allow its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death so-called “diehard” Taiwanese independence activists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan. Late last month, a senior Chinese official gave closed-door instructions to state security units to implement the guidelines in countries friendly to China, a government memo and a senior Taiwan security official said, based on information gathered by Taiwan’s intelligence agency. The
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said yesterday that it is looking to hire 8,000 people this year, at a time when the tech giant is expanding production capacity to maintain its lead over competitors. To attract talent, TSMC would launch a large-scale recruitment campaign on campuses across Taiwan, where a newly recruited engineer with a master’s degree could expect to receive an average salary of NT$2.2 million (US$60,912), which is much higher than the 2023 national average of NT$709,000 for those in the same category, according to government statistics. TSMC, which accounted for more than 60 percent
President William Lai (賴清德) should protect Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), and stop supporting domestic strife and discord, former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrote on Facebook yesterday. US President Donald Trump and TSMC on Monday jointly announced that the company would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next few years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US. The TSMC plans have promoted concern in Taiwan that it would effectively lead to the chipmaking giant becoming Americanized. The Lai administration lacks tangible policies to address concerns that Taiwan might follow in Ukraine’s footsteps, Ma wrote. Instead, it seems to think it could
RSS