To ensure pedestrians' safety and right of way, the Executive Yuan is allocating NT$40 billion (US$1.2 billion) over four years to fund a sustainable pedestrian safety enhancement program (2024-2027). The program provides subsidies and guidance to local governments to improve pedestrian safety through road projects, and promotes assessment mechanisms that utilize citizen reporting to identify the critical road areas and intersections in need of most attention. This initiative will accelerate the improvement of pedestrian environments and overall road quality, creating a safe and secure environment for all road users.
Key areas of action
■ Pedestrian facilities at intersections: Review the current condition and safety of pedestrian facilities at road intersections. Construct or improve the design of pedestrian refuge islands, warning systems and other safety facilities to shorten crossing distances and reduce blind spots in drivers' field of view.
■ Sidewalk improvements: Implement sidewalk improvement programs proposed by local governments and subsidized by the central government. Use the "Street Doctor" online platform to enable the public to propose street improvements and prioritize cases.
■ A program to improve roads and traffic safety around school campuses: Assess and improve the intersection designs, as well as the traffic signs, markers and signals, of dangerous roads in and around urban school campuses of all levels.
■ Pedestrian and elderly-friendly demonstration zones: Through public input and active reviews by local governments, designate suitably walkable areas in various counties and cities as demonstration zones. These zones will be prioritized for the improvement of pedestrian flow and sidewalk spaces.
■ Reduction of roadside obstacles: Strengthen road management and use subsidy programs to encourage county and city governments to remove unnecesary traffic posts and other roadside obstacles.
■ Intersections that lack traffic signals: At road intersections that currently have no traffic signals, introduce traffic markers and other measures to control traffic and reduce vehicle speed.