MOTC raises fine for failure to yield, 3-meter policy to remain

MOTC raises fine for failure to yield, 3-meter policy to remain

2023-06-27

The transport ministry is raising the stakes for drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians. Starting June 30, the fine will jump from NT$3,600 to NT$6,000. But the ministry has shied away from stricter regulations. It initially planned to mandate a full stop for all pedestrians on a crosswalk. After a public outcry, it revised the proposal to ask drivers to stop for pedestrians who were, quote, near and not far. However, on Tuesday, the ministry said it would stick with its current “three-meter rule,” which requires vehicles to be at least 3 meters away from pedestrians on crosswalks.

Lee Ker-tsung
Consumer Protection Committee
There wasn’t much of a problem with the original rule. We don’t have very strong reasons to adjust it. We wanted to emphasize that whenever pedestrians step onto the crosswalk or walk into an intersection, they have absolute right of way. As for the definitions of a “near” or “far” pedestrian, it’s very difficult to be consistent, because each person may have a different sense of “near” and “far” as defined by traffic signals or pedestrian islands. So there might be ambiguity or there might be situations where a judgment simply can’t be made. So we are going to continue using the original rule.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
This morning, I confirmed this matter with the National Police Agency. Right now, the rule we will enforce is the same one that’s been in effect since 2006, which is the three-meter rule. As for the fine being raised, we believe this will make the public form a habit of yielding to pedestrians, and so we’ll likely see some things change.

The decision to retain the “three-meter rule” was made after a meeting of law enforcement officials, traffic experts, and transportation officials. The participants said that the public was already familiar with the current rule, which means it will be easier to enforce.

車輛停讓行人標準王國材:維持現有3公尺

2023-06-27

交通部6/30起加重不停讓行人罰鍰，從3600提高到6000元，然而取締標準，一度宣布"只要斑馬線上有人，不論遠近駕駛都要停讓"引來罵聲，部長王國材拋出將行穿線以分隔島區隔，分為近端與遠端當作執法依據，專家學者經過討論後，認為都不可行，決定維持現有標準，車頭和行人，至少要有三公尺距離。

[[消基會交委會召集人李克聰]]
“原來的規定沒有什麼太大問題，我們又沒有調整非常強烈的理由，特別去強調，行人只要踏上行穿線，或進入路口就有絕對路權。至於近端遠端的認定，可能很難一致性，因為我們對號誌的近端、遠端認定，跟我們現在用分隔島近端、遠端認定，可能不一致，所以可能會有模糊，或者是一些無法認定的情況，我們就維持原來認定的標準”

[[交通部長王國材]]
“我今天早上跟警政署最後確認，現在就是取締標準，就會維持原來，從民國95年開始 3公尺的標準，罰鍰提升以後，我們覺得這方面，讓民眾禮讓行人的習慣，可能會有所改變”

會中包括執法單位、學者專家和道安委員，展開長達三個半小時討論，認定現有標準，民眾已經逐漸熟悉，對執法的負面影響也比較小。

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But Lai’s buttoned-up image has distanced him from young people. Concerned supporters have been urging Lai for some time to drop the formalities and put on a T-shirt for once.

Lai Ching-te
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I used to be a doctor. And when I was in the hospital, or at academic conferences, or having meetings as a lawmaker or mayor or premier, I had to attend lots of formal occasions. And I had to wear a suit for all of them – otherwise I would secretly feel different from everyone else.

Lai has decided to take up his friends’ advice. In recent videos he was seen sporting a polo shirt, and on outings with dignitaries, a suit – but no tie. And a T-shirt was the choice for a “Friends who Rely on Lai” event. But other DPP lawmakers say that dressing as the real you is all that matters in the end.

Cheng Yun-peng
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Some people might think it’s boring. But actually I think this is the image that behooves any head of state. And that’s what really marks Lai Ching-te out from the two other presidential candidates – he’s the most reliable candidate.

DPP lawmaker Cheng Yun-peng doesn’t want Lai to change. He thinks a statesmanlike image is not to be confused with stuffiness.

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Ko Wen-je says he was never opposed to Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement

Presidential hopeful Ko Wen-je has ignited a firestorm, by saying he will restart talks with China over the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement. The controversial treaty was never ratified, after sparking a wave of protests known as the 2014 Sunflower Student Movement. Ko says he was never opposed to the treaty itself, only to the secretive negotiations that brokered it. His remarks have drawn anger from local politicians, who accuse him of changing his tune to win votes.

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Back in 2014, and even earlier in 2013, Ko Wen-je didn’t put it quite like that. He compared it to tightening a screw, saying that once the screws were attached, they would only get tighter and tighter. Ko Wen-je emphasized that once the agreement was signed, Taiwan’s top-tier medical talent would go to China, and low-end medical talent would see their salaries go down in Taiwan. So why has Ko Wen-je changed his position?

Ko previously testified at public hearings in his capacity as a doctor. He spoke about the treaty’s adverse impact, in remarks that have come back to haunt him. On social media, New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih criticized supporters of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, urging the people of Taiwan to reject such candidates.

Chiu Hsien-chih
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This exhibition is about historical memories and also about the way those historical memories are embodied as a text or object, and how it is being circulated in our contemporary living world. Some of the historical memories can be a social or political event, but can also be a very personal experience.

Twenty-five artists, including Andres Baron, Slater Bradley, Jack Burton, Rutherford Chang, and Yu Araki are showcasing their pieces created out of a variety of media that range from video, and installation, to virtual reality. Their creations also explore the concept of deja-vu.

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I think it is kind of a common experience now that somehow you will sense a historical style or historical memories that are haunted in your contemporary life. It is kind of an experience of deja-vu. I want to find a way to explore these kinds of feelings about contemporary life and its relation to history. I think contemporary art became a way to allow us to make this happen.

The exhibition can be viewed up to August 13 at the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab.

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