Government offers grants, encourages scooter riders to get riding lessons

Government offers grants, encourages scooter riders to get riding lessons

2022-09-26

Taiwan’s road safety is becoming more and more of a hot topic. The danger that scooter riders face on the roads is particularly stark. That’s why officials are now doing all they can to encourage scooter riders to get lessons and improve their skills on the road. Today we visit a riding school in the capital which offers students a comprehensive skills-building course. You can even get a grant to help pay for the course.

A student puts on a helmet and grasps the handlebars. It’s time for the Devil’s Test. Riding along this straight line helps students practice their balance. You need to take more than seven seconds.

Driving school student
When you ride by yourself you have lots of blind spots. Here someone is there watching you and they will help you by pointing your problems out straight away. You can improve your riding issues faster.

Riding school instructor
Here we can train the students, when they’re doing basic maneuvers, about the marks on the road, and we get them to do basic maneuvers, or practice maintaining a certain distance from the vehicle in front of them.

Statistics show that new scooter riders with inadequate training will likely get into traffic accidents within their first four years on the road. And 10% of new riders will break traffic laws. But after receiving training like this, and improving their understanding of how to ride, that law-breaking cohort drops to just under 3% of the total.

Aside from improving skills, and raising awareness of traffic rules, the school also teaches students how to ride defensively if they’re in an emergency. That helps protect riders from the many dangers they face on the road.

Chiang Shu-jen
Taipei Motor Vehicles Office head
After six hours’ classroom education in a school, and 10 hours’ practical training on the bike, once they’ve learned fully and pass the test, it is a great help to them on the road.

Lin Yung-fa
Keelung deputy mayor
This is their mobile service van. From starting to learn to ride all the way to getting the license, it’s all part of one service. I hope that students or city residents who are about to take the test will make use of it.

The school is working with Taipei Motor Vehicles Office to provide tests right here on the premises. And this year the Directorate General of Highways is offering a NT$1,300 grant for anyone who wants riding lessons. But only 20,000 grants are available, and there are just 400 spots left in the north of the country. If you want to grab your chance, now’s the time.