Department of Transportation

With regard to the city councilors’ concern about the high accident casualty rate of elderly pedestrians, the Department of Transportation expresses that according to the accident information statistics of the Traffic Police Brigade, for A1 incidents (fatality within 24 hours) from 2008 to 2010, the average number of deaths for elderly pedestrians over the age of 65 was 21 persons (making up 79% of total pedestrian deaths); for A2 incidents (injury incidents) from 2008 to 2010, the average number of elderly pedestrians injured was 596 persons (making up 30% of total pedestrian injuries).
Hence, in 2011, to strengthen the accident prevention of elderly pedestrians, the Department of Transport has established the elderly safe passage improvement demonstration area at roads surrounding the Taipei City Youth Park, and also established the elderly safety public awareness group, penetrating into society and conducting face-to-face communication with the elderly. After one year of improvement efforts, the number of elderly casualties of the area surrounding the demonstration has decreased by 9 persons (-69%),compared to the same period last year, producing an encouraging result. Again in 2012, the Department of Transportation targeted 9 temples and 15 parks that are frequently visited by the elderly, and selected 3 locations and surrounding roads where the elderly traffic accident rate is higher than the city average, i.e., Hsing Tian Kong (Xingtian Temple), Rongxing Park and The Confucius Temple a.k.a. the Dalongdong Baoan Temple, to conduct the environment improvement scheme for elderly safe passage. At the same time, the “Friendly Driving: Give Way to Pedestrians” campaign was launched, using the simple slogan “Stop, Look, Turn, Wave, Go” to teach pedestrians to protect themselves. In addition, traffic safety seminars were given at village offices, communities, and elderly social groups and societies, by the “Traffic Safety Guardians.”
According to the 2011 accident information statistics, the number of elderly pedestrian fatalities was 19 persons: 2 persons less than the 2008 to 2010 average of 21. Also, the elderly pedestrian fatalities of January to July in 2012 was 9 persons, which is also 3 persons less than the 12 persons in the same period in 2011. There has been a significant decrease in the number of elderly pedestrian fatalities. The Taipei City Government will continue its efforts, with the mutual cooperation of both hardware and software to ensure the safety of elderly pedestrians through construction, education promotion and law enforcement. In addition, the Department of Transportation appeals to motorist that when approaching areas often frequented by the elderly such as parks, markets, hospitals, transit stations, health/fitness centers, schools and their surrounding roads, to be especially vigilant and give way. The Department of Transportation also appealed to the family members of the elderly to remind elders that when going out, to wear bright colored clothing and obey traffic rules to protect their own safety. DO NOT disobey traffic rules just for the sake of convenience!

2012-09-21