Taiwan's Traffic Tango: When Pedestrians Cause Motorists to Get Fined!

New Traffic Laws Face Backlash as Motorists Get Ticketed for "Not Yielding" to Pedestrians Waiting at Red Lights.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taiwan has been aggressively cracking down on motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians, aiming to improve road safety. However, the enforcement of these regulations is raising eyebrows among drivers, as some find themselves penalized in seemingly absurd situations.

Recently, a motorcyclist encountered a perplexing scenario. As he approached an intersection, pedestrians were "standing on the zebra crossing waiting for a red light." Upon passing through the intersection, the motorcyclist was unexpectedly flagged by "technology enforcement" for "failing to yield to pedestrians." Outraged, others online and offline have criticized the situation, calling it a "tyrannical clause" against drivers.

The Legislative Yuan amended the "Road Traffic Management and Punishment Act" in 2023, increasing fines for vehicles that fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks or intersections where pedestrians are legally allowed to cross. The maximum fine is now NT$6,000, along with 3 demerit points on the driver's license and a mandatory 3-hour traffic safety course.