Taiwanese authorities are reporting a huge rise in the number of falling objects on public roads. And it’s a real headache for road-users and public officials alike.
Car parts, boxes, tires - falling objects are causing a safety nightmare on public highways.
Public works official Ho Ming-ting has seen it all. He says live animals are the hardest to manage. They’ve even had to deal with cows wandering onto the highway. The first step is finding the owner.
And the amount of trash on highways is increasing year on year. According to statistics, there were 42,000 pieces of trash found in 2017. That dropped by 1000 in 2018, and again by 2000 in 2019. But then that number soared last year by over 10,000. Police reports show a similar trend, with a rise of 4000 last year.
Ho says discarded tires are a big problem. He says trucks sometimes use recycled tires that burst easily.
Police think the rise may be down to better enforcement of the law. Also, more people are using dashcams to report dangerous incidents.
Currently, authorities can fine offenders up to NT$18,000 (US$640). So to spare your wallet and keep everyone safe, it’s best to check your things are fastened tight before hitting the road.