Taipei: Eight pedestrians lost their lives in 13 fatal city bus accidents in Taipei and New Taipei between 2019 and 2023, primarily due to drivers failing to yield or stop at pedestrian crossings. This information was released by the local governments on Monday.According to Focus Taiwan, in Taipei alone, 1,259 traffic accidents involving city buses led to eight deaths and 601 injuries over the five-year period. The Taipei City Public Transportation Office compiled these statistics. The year 2023 witnessed 345 such accidents, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the total, while 2020 had the highest number of fatalities and injuries, with four deaths and 145 injured individuals.Of the eight fatalities in Taipei, five were pedestrians. Investigations revealed that these deaths occurred because bus drivers failed to yield or notice vehicles in front of them. The remaining three fatalities resulted from drivers not adhering to turning regulations or braking too abruptly.In New Taipei, city bus drivers were r esponsible for 1,568 traffic accidents, resulting in five deaths, including three pedestrians, and 619 injuries during the same timeframe, as per New Taipei government figures. The year 2023 saw the highest number of deaths and injuries, with three fatalities and 190 injuries. The pedestrian fatalities in New Taipei were attributed to buses speeding or not yielding at pedestrian crossings.The statistics were released shortly after a tragic incident involving a female pedestrian who was killed after being trapped under one of two buses that collided in downtown Taipei. This accident also injured 15 people, including eight Thai tourists, highlighting ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety in Taiwan, which has been criticized by foreign media as a perilous environment for pedestrians.