TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The transportation ministry plans to raise the maximum penalty for seriously injuring or killing a pedestrian to NT$36,000 (US$1,100) and expand the gap between vehicle stop lines and crosswalks. 

In an interview with CNA on March 12, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said that it is a “national disgrace” for pedestrians to be hit or killed on crosswalks. On Friday, Chen announced that the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) will be amended to raise fines.

Chen said the fine for causing minor injuries will be raised from NT$7,200 to NT$18,000. The penalty for causing serious injury or death will be between NT$7,200 and NT$36,000, with a uniform fine of NT$36,000.

The original one-year license suspension for causing minor injuries will be increased to a revocation of one to two years. The original three-year license revocation for causing serious injuries or death will be increased to a four- to five-year license suspension.

In addition, transportation ministry officials told Liberty Times the amendment would increase the gap between the vehicle stop line and crosswalk from the current one- to two-meter distance to two to three meters. According to the ministry's survey, while most intersections maintain at least a one-meter gap, a small number of intersections have a distance of less than one meter.

The ministry said the revision is expected to be completed in June. City and county governments have been asked to inventory the number of intersections where the gap is less than one meter and develop improvement plans. 

Starting in the third quarter, the ministry will dispatch personnel to conduct random inspections of roads nationwide. Necessary improvements are to be completed by the end of the year.