Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

During a press conference following the administrative meeting on April 27, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin informed the journalists that the city government will be stepping up actions to ensure pedestrians a safe and comfortable walking environment.
The planned measures include cracking down motorists who do not yield to pedestrians on the crosswalks and implementing a new wave of education program to remind drivers of their responsibility for pedestrian safety. In addition, the mayor stressed he has asked the city agencies to look into the possibility of increasing the maximum penalty for traffic offences causing injury or death of pedestrian.
The voice demanding more protection for pedestrians became louder after the former envoy to the Republic of South Africa Liu I-cheng was hit by a taxi as he walked on a crossing. Following the incident, a newspaper in Singapore also gave a report on the local motorists’ unawareness of giving ways to pedestrians.
The mayor recalled that the Department of Transportation has launched the campaign promoting the pedestrian-first courtesy during the period when the Deaflympics was held in the city. The politeness displayed by the motorists was highly recognized by the hearing-impaired athletes from around the world. However, the courtesy of yielding to pedestrians was set aside following the conclusion of the sports game.
Hau said the city government will improve the yield-to-pedestrian compliance through vigorous enforcement measures and more training program on bus/taxi drivers. He encouraged every resident to get involved in efforts of developing the pedestrian-first culture in the city.