Taipei: A road safety advocacy group on Sunday called for reforms to Taiwan's driver licensing and retraining system after a pedestrian was killed and 15 other people were injured in a two-bus collision in Taipei. "Taiwan's driver's licenses are among the easiest to obtain in the world, and there is no mandatory retraining system for drivers," Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance, a group pushing to reduce pedestrian fatalities, said in a news release.According to Focus Taiwan, the alliance highlighted that current regulations allow individuals with only two years of standard car driving experience and a completed driver training course to test for a commercial bus driver's license. This, they argue, places inexperienced bus drivers on the road, thereby endangering pedestrians. The group has previously submitted a report to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, urging the government to reform its driver licensing and retraining systems.The report identified several key issues, including rigid and outd ated driving exams and the discrepancy between actual and simulated driving conditions. It also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as driving instructors often serve as license examiners. The group's statement followed a fatal incident in Taipei's Zhongzheng District where a Route 213 city bus driven by a 23-year-old woman rear-ended a Route 49 city bus, resulting in the death of a 50-year-old pedestrian and minor injuries to the driver and 14 passengers.The advocacy group noted the tragic timing of the incident, which coincided with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. On this day, they had planned a vigil to honor traffic accident victims and to urge the government to commit to traffic safety reforms. The group expressed regret over the severe accident occurring on such a solemn day.Criticism was also directed at the Taipei City Government and bus companies for perceived inadequate management. Despite promoting the "pointing and calling" safety protocol at intersect ions, the group noted potential lapses in individual driver compliance and failure to maintain safe driving distances. They also pointed out that long shifts and low wages contribute to driver fatigue, affecting road safety.The alliance called for bus operators to review and enhance driver management and education. It urged the well-resourced Taipei City to rigorously supervise public transport operators to ensure road safety.