Ratio of motorcyclists killed in traffic accidents rises in Taipei

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on January 6, 2007. It reports that according to Taipei City's transportation bureau, as many as 67.9 percent of people killed in traffic accidents in the city in 2006 were motorcyclists -- an increase of 19.2 percent from the figure of 48.7 percent recorded in the previous year.

Of these motorcyclists who died in traffic accidents, 70.2 percent were under 30 years of age.

In 2006, a total of 88 major traffic accidents were recorded in Taipei City, leaving 81 percent dead and 7 seriously injured. These figures compare with 92 major traffic accidents in 2005, which left 84 people dead and 13 seriously injured.

According to government officials, 90 percent of the accidents were the result of traffic violations, such as speeding, running red lights and drunk driving. The government will step up its crackdown on traffic violations to reduce the traffic accident death rate in the city.