Tragic train crash in Hualien on April 2, 2021

In the year 2525, when expats still blame the KMT
(821) Zager And Evans - In The Year 2525 - YouTube

Life is about combining both in most countries is it not? Connections/networking are good, meritocracy is important. This is where US exceptionalism shines. Upward mobility is easier than in some deeply socialist and class based societies where cadres get all the opportunities. I think Taiwan does not fit that description very much any more. It is why a lot of soft greens had a soft spot for CCK. He made them rich. Lots of foreign commentators in Taiwan are living in a time warp :joy:

Let us not politicize a tragedy.

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I think Taiwan needs to start with the young generation. The people stuck in their ways are unlikely to change their behaviors. It’s just the way it is that cars just don’t keep their distance. In the US, they drill this into you when you study for the DL. Especially when you get your driving permit at 16, you have to attend class and drive on the road with a instructor for practice. They force you to drive this way.

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Looking at the train, it has stopped in under its own length - so from 100+kmh to 0 in about 150 metres - so anyone standing has been propelled forward at that speed - I don’t like to think of the result.

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TRTC takes safety really seriously. Like they will stop service if there’s even a hint of an earthquake. Haven’t seen any major problems. I mean yes TRA has bigger system and all that but when I was on the Puyoma train it shook rather violently. That tells me someone hasn’t been maintaining the system correctly.

Executive Yuan has determined flags will fly half mast.

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That’s certainly helpful… :roll_eyes:

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Executive Yuan should shake up TRA. Since it is a SOE/government agency type organization, it should not be hard if they have the will for it.

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1000% agreed, but I think we’d open up a whole different topic about the Taiwan education system.

One thing I will comment about is if drivers ed is taught to the high schoolers, you still have the experienced family members and friends teaching them bad habits when they get on the road.

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Tsai and Su both called for a through investigation and prompt assistance to the bereaved.

I agree with you but fixing the test and guanxi based iron bowl public servant culture is a huge task.

Interesting questions raised by talk show hosts:

Why was the truck driver working on the construction site on a holiday? Allegedly, the construction was stopped.

How did the truck fall? Why did it fall? Still under investigation.

Truck was struck and dragged. It was split in 2. Part was encrusted in the train’s head…an irregular mass were they found the train driver’s remains. 32 years old, recently married.

The video recorder was in that train head, so… Until and if it is found, we will know how and when the truck fell and was struck by the train.

Tragedy happened in 7 seconds, some say.

Head was 5, 6, 7 and 8, where there were the most fatalities. These cars were stuck inside the tunnel. Cars 1 et all were outside.

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Reports are now being posted in which eye-witness accounts from a Red Cross rescuer appear. I won’t link the story. Reading this stuff is not for the faint of heart. : (

Guy

Most of the the bad behavior you see in Taiwan is about ethics/values not the mechanics of how to drive a car, follow safety rules, etc. etc.

I’m sure the demolition worker in Kaohsiung who fell 14 floors to his death when his excavator flipped had been told how a seatbelt works and why it might be useful. He just didn’t care.

And the contractor only got a 60k fine…

Chabuduo…mei ban fa all the way down.

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I agree but with the declining birth rate the population will just get older and more stubborn.

Could it have been sickly intentional?
Hate to entertain the thought, but can’t deny it did pop up in the back of my mind.

Survivors say most travellers were sleeping.

And yes, they heard cries for help initially…

One rescuer says he thinks the truck did not slip, but rather rolled downhill, because of the path left. Weird.

That may be a good thing. You sustain less damage when you are relaxed.

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Or hopefully wake up in heaven with no recollection of how you got there.

I am more and more a fan of seat belts. I think next time I get on a long range bus or train I’ll bring my own.

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Doubtful, but it happened before on the Southlink. No matter, he still has major fault in this and should serve time as well that business (doubt that will happen) owners.

More likely someone pressing to meet quotas/goals, rush rush.

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On one hand, I agree with @Hannes basically. There must be a thousand places where some kind of road abuts the tracks, and they must have to fix things in close proximity to active tracks all the time. On the other hand, it seems like a simple line of concrete barriers there could have prevented it.

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