What a shit show
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Sidewalks don’t exist in Taiwan. Motorbikes see them as an extension of the road for them and they have the right of way. This story shows how that thinking is officially supported. So, you better watch out.
Motorcycles aren’t the issue, they just have easier access to the sidewalks including parking. But I have seen plenty of cars on sidewalks, too.
The root cause can be seen when people stand at the door to a 711 and talk to their friends or fiddle with the phone, can be seen when people push onto an elevator rather than wait for people to get off. Usually there are no motorists at the elevator, just a way of moving through the world that doesn’t consider other people. China was the same, I wonder about Japan…
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Another insanely drunk driver. Driver blew just short of a 1. Trash truck gets rear ended at high speed, killing the worker in the back. She was just 23yrs. old. She died on the spot.
Update to another drunk driving case. The infamous case of a drunk driver, who was also unlicensed, who ran a red light, hit and killed a med. student and fled the scene was given a 10yr. sentence. Despite fleeing he eventually turned himself in so he met the criteria for voluntary surrender, getting him a reduced sentence. The father said in response that there is no justice…
The father showed up to court in his son’s clothes and white lab coat.
CoPilot translation of the sentencing:
The court considered Wu’s unlicensed driving, multiple unpaid traffic fines, drunk driving through a red light, killing Chen, and fleeing the scene — all showing severe malice. He was sentenced to 9 years for repeat drunk driving causing death and 5 years for repeat hit‑and‑run causing death, with a combined execution of 10 years. The verdict can be appealed.
Another dangerous hook turn. Car driver turning left doesn’t want to wait for the car in front of her and so she just decides to blindly turn. Well there’s another vehicle coming the other way with no time to react and the collision sends the left turning driver into the hook turn box. 6 people injured. Funny how when addressing the news the officer says that the driver going straight is suspected of being at fault for failing to slow down…at a green light which is something many people misunderstand and is not something you have to do at green lights.
Another hook turn incident. In Taichung a couple of people hit as 2 people on motorcycles/scooters have a collision and one person goes into the hook turn box.
As a side note you can see the new “sidewalks” the Highway Bureau gave us…on a major road.
This guy thinks the sidewalk is dangerous as it will create many traffic accidents 
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I believe in identifying root causes myself, but also have hope/faith that people/cultures can learn and change. Korea displayed a lot of that open rudeness when I arrived in 2008, but it has improved. Shame, reputation, and money are good motivators for change. I don’t see any of these at play here in Taiwan, though my finger is quite off the pulse of this place.
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I certainly don’t disagree with his premise. I’d never walk on that “sidewalk”. It’s the same old joke.
This guy is absolutely right, especially if motorcycles drive on them, if they put bathroom tiles on the floor, or if the floor has different levels.
Tough to change a culture; how do you teach people to care?
Yeah, I was thinking about that lack of caring in light of the lame response to the bullying behaviors which is not dealt with at school. It’s the same personal responsibility/accountability deficit, IMO. I’m counting the days…….
Pedestrian island in Changhua has been hit again. 12 times in half a year.
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Only time until this bs causes a death
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Left turning drivers have killed lots of people. Should be banned IMO
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Three rights don’t make a left in oppositeland.
They’ve been infantilized
Not the pedestrian kids, but they have been socialized into a Mad Max way of moving through the world!
so hard to stop. it feeds itself
probably said that a week ago
show me one video where a pedestrian island saves a life
@lunlan will def have it if it exists
I shouldn’t see or read any more news like this, but in the end it’s hard to stay away. Since I was hit by a car here in Taiwan two years ago, I admit that sometimes I panic more if a motorcycle gets too close to me, not to mention that my shoulders and the broken bones in my right arm remind me every day that I had an accident.
But lm alive others didn’t get same lucky
Hit from behind by a left-turner?
I get your point, so more protection should be added to protect pedestrians, but for this country, perhaps it is a start - Lesson One, if you will. The island does guide and motivate drivers to take the proper angle when making that turn. Consequences for failing, you smashed up your car. Lesson Two - learn how to yield/build better infrastructure that supports this, etc. and then greater consequences for hitting people. It can be done. The will is there because, I have to believe, a great percentage of the class would like to escape from the 3rd world.
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