The Cabinet on Thursday passed draft amendments to the organization act of the Aviation Safety Council, and proposed restructuring the agency into a national transportation safety council.
Premier Lai Ching-te said following the deadly derailment of a Puyuma Express train on October 21, the government has been conducting a full-scale inspection of all Puyuma express trains and the entire Taiwan Railways Administration system. To build a safer and more comprehensive transport environment, the government will also establish the national transportation safety council to conduct independent, fair and professional investigations of major transportation accidents on land, in the sea and in the air.
Modeled after similar laws in the U.S., Japan and other advanced countries, the proposed act will expand the council's responsibilities from aviation safety to include investigations of railway, shipping and highway accidents, the premier said.
The proposed amendments will be forwarded to the Legislature for review.