Taipei: Taiwan recorded 1,368 traffic deaths within 30 days of accidents in the first half of 2025, marking a 4.7 percent decrease from the previous year and a 12.8 percent drop compared to 2023, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).
According to Focus Taiwan, Deputy MOTC Minister Chen Yen-po highlighted at a news conference that this figure represents the third lowest on record, following 1,275 in 2020 and 1,360 in 2018. Pedestrian fatalities decreased to 173, the second-lowest level after 2021 when 162 were recorded. Additionally, deaths among motorcyclists, drivers, young people, and seniors showed a decline.
In terms of city-specific data, Tainan recorded the highest number of fatalities at 168, followed by Kaohsiung with 152 and Taichung with 133. Tainan also experienced the largest increase in fatalities from last year, rising by 39. Other significant increases were seen in Miaoli with 16 additional deaths, and Keelung and Chiayi City with six each. MOTC official Wu Tung-ling noted that most of Tainan's increase involved small vehicle crashes and elderly victims, with 30 percent of self-collision cases attributed to driver fatigue or inattentiveness.
In a separate development, the Legislative Yuan has preliminarily approved amendments aimed at toughening penalties for unlicensed driving. The proposed revisions would increase fines to NT$36,000 (US$1,196) for motorcycles, NT$60,000 for cars, and NT$80,000 for large vehicles, with maximum fines enforced for a second offense within 10 years. Repeat offenders would face additional fines of NT$12,000 for motorcycles and cars, and NT$24,000 for large vehicles. Vehicle owners would face penalties at the same level as drivers, including license suspensions of three months for a first offense, six months for a second offense within 10 years, and one year for three or more offenses.
According to the MOTC, there has been a 9.8 percent decrease in unlicensed driving cases since penalties were first increased in June 2023. However, accidents involving unlicensed drivers in 2024 still resulted in 523 deaths and 38,637 injuries.