At intersections without traffic lights, whether pedestrians can cross the road depends on their speed and luck. A recent internet video has spurred further discussion about street safety.
Two children are seen trying to cross the road at a busy intersection on Long'an Street in Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City. With no vehicles stopping, they tried raising their hands for attention, but eventually retreated to the curb.
An internet celebrity known as Cheap posted the video and angrily criticized the drivers who refused to allow the children to cross, inciting an online conversation focusing on the lack of traffic safety in Taiwan.
At intersections without traffic lights, whether pedestrians can cross the road depends on their speed and luck. Mothers pushing strollers walk quickly when there are no cars around, looking left and right for fear of being hit. Thankfully, some cars stop when they see elderly people who can only cross slowly.
One older man says that when cars force their way through the intersection rather than letting him pass, he wants to throw things at them. Another pedestrian points out that this intersection is uncrossable without traffic lights.
Taoyuan Police Traffic Team Leader Lin Chien-hsiang (林健祥) warns that those who fail to stop to let pedestrians pass first will be fined up to NT$6,000 (approximately US$180). Regarding the viral video, the Taoyuan police said that meetings are planned with the Transportation Ministry and local representatives to discuss installing traffic lights to protect the rights of pedestrians.
Until intersections are made safer, perhaps the question shouldn’t be about why the chicken crossed the road, but whether or not it could at all.