Taiwan traffic deaths in 2022 up year on year and highest since 2013

The Ministry of Transport and Communications today released data on traffic accidents in 2022, and the report shows that there were 4% more deaths from traffic accidents than the previous year, and the highest number of deaths since 2013.

According to the MOTC report, 3,085 people died on Taiwan’s roads in 2022, with the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities all up more than 4% year on year.

The total number of accidents reported was 375,632, and there were a total of 490,887 injuries.

Motorcycle rider fatalities constituted 63% of the total number of road deaths at 1,954, an increase of 146 over 2021 figures.

394 pedestrians died in 2022, 16 fewer than in 2021, however, there were 1,168 more pedestrian injured year on year.

Minister of Transport and Communications, Wang Kwo-tsai said that the continuous increase in the number of traffic deaths is not just a traffic problem, it is a social problem. Minister Wang said that the central government is providing funding to municipal governments to make improvements. Priority will be given to road safety improvements around schools, the widening and leveling of sidewalks, and improvements to night lighting.

Among other measures announced by the MOTC today, starting from March 31, the fines for cars going through crosswalks without stopping and giving way to pedestrians will be increased to NT$3,600 for all cars, regardless of size. If the pedestrian affected is a visually impaired person carrying a white cane or accompanied by a guide dog the fine for a small vehicle will be NT$4,800, and for large vehicles, NT$7,200.

Number of traffic accidents and deaths from 201 to 2022 bar chart
Graph showing the total number of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities nationwide from 2017 to 2022. Picture: National Road Safety Commission.
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