The transportation ministry says that it is against lowering the legal age for obtaining motorcycle licenses. The ministry’s statement on Monday comes after media reports that the government is thinking about lowering the current legal age for getting motorcycle licenses from 18 to 16.
But the transportation ministry said that no bill on the issue has been submitted yet. The ministry also said that it will not consider lowering the legal age because it is against ministry policy.
More than 15 million motorcycles are registered in Taiwan, and the crowded streets of the island see more accidents, more injuries and more fatalities every year. The mortality rate among unlicensed riders under 18 years of age is more than 10 times that of any other age group.