|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
jump to ￭ train crash
￭ tourist bus on fire
￭ aviation accidents
￭
Chinese version
★ CNN (2022-12-6): Taiwan's 'living hell' traffic is a tourism problem. Taiwan is notorious for its dangerous roads. Multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, have specifically called out Taiwan's road conditions. "Many drivers do not respect the pedestrian's right of way,” the US State Department warns. The Canadian government: "Motorcycles and scooter drivers don't respect traffic laws. They are extremely reckless.” Cities in Taiwan share a major issue – a lack of pavements and consistent walkways for pedestrians, ... Pedestrians are then often “forced” to walk onto car lanes... The number of people lost their lives to traffic incidents in Taiwan is approximately six times higher than Japan and five times higher than the UK. msn.com/en-us/travel/news/taiwans-living-hell-traffic-is-a-tourism-problem-say-critics/ar-AA14Xb2n brief
★ Liberty Times (2023-6-6): All top 5 main causes of traffic accidents in last year are Taiwanese' low quality in observing traffic law and rules. To solve this issue, the government needs to work on 'hardware' facilities, strict law-enforcement, and perseverance - the latter two are not easy to change because of Taiwanese basic culture. talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/1586963
  |
|
|
|
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransAsia_Airways_Flight_235 news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1768341 FTV 2018-10-22 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBR9Iy1HAQQ
(1)
train crash
New
York Times, 2021-7-19 (nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/asia/taiwan-train-crash.html):
systemic
failures at a government agency
contributed to Taiwan’s worst rail
disaster in seven decades. It has
undermined confidence in the government
at a time when Taiwan has struggled with
a surge in coronavirus cases and rolling
electrical blackouts (ps:
CovID in Taiwan )
an accident waiting to happen - brief
●
reforms -
Although some recommendations were
instituted, structural changes were not.
●
politicians factors - politicians and
union, have shielded it from
accountability and prevented desperately
needed operational and management
changes...T.R.A. has played an important
role in the distribution of political
benefits ...Attempts to raise ticket
prices have been blocked by elected
officials who feared the political
fallout.
●
prioritizing money over safety -
The way the agency is organized “may
cause business concern to be prioritized
over railroad safety in decision
making”.
●
|
|
|
|
||
|
★
BBC, 2021-4-6, New York Times,
2021-4-5,
Al
Jazeera, 2021-4-5,
Washington Post, 2021-4-3,
CNN, 2021-4-4:
Taiwan's worst train crash in decades leaves at least 51 (50) dead, and more than 200 injured.
The busy passenger train ( Taroko Express 408 ) was carrying nearly 500 people derailed in a tunnel after hitting a construction truck that fell from a slope near the tunnel onto the tracks in eastern Taiwan.
The train was so full that many people were standing.
A passenger recalled the train conductor sound the horn ( means a situation ahead), but the train did not slow down, 6.9 seconds later, the train slammed into a lorry that had slipped onto the tracks. (brief)
|
||||
|
|
reviews by local media
★ The China Times, editorial, 2021-4-7: This is a scourge of lousy politics instead of a human negligence (這不是人為疏失，而是政治禍害) 。https://chinatimes.com/opinion/20210406004190-262101?chdtv
★ United Daily, editorial, 2021-4-8: Each disaster is resulted by Taiwanese culture of undisciplined, careless and loafing; such culture was resulted by Taiwan's bureaucracy... https://udn.com/news/story/7338/5372849
★ United Daily, editorial, 2021-4-5: Taiwan train crash with 41 deaths (new number 50) / As soon as prosecutor found it's a truck causing the deadly accident, Taiwan government immediately mobilized internet army/online army to do media-framing， trying to shift all blames to the contractor /concessionaire, and even the construction-supervision company 「聯合大地工程顧問公司」，so as to lower negative reviews on the government and Railway adm. What a contemptible！ those officials focused on shifting the blame, instead of self-criticism , seeking improvements, strengthening supervision management to avoid next accident (this train crash is just a tip of iceberg). udn.com/news/story/7338/5366026?from=udn_ch2_menu_v2_main_cate
★ United Daily, editorial, 2021-4-6: Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) sets up early-warning system for natural disasters - earthquake, climate (strong wind, heavy rains , etc) and intruders (falling rocks etc), why Taiwan railway can not do the same thing ? because the government spent NT$ one billion on fighting China's pineapple ban, but failed to spend NT$ 0.25 billion on the early-warning system as early as possible. All dead-paper, actual execution is very late. The priority of Taiwan administration is propaganda instead of human safety protection. udn.com/news/story/7338/5367712?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2
★ The Liberty Times, editorial, 2021-4-6: The railway has no safety protection facilities, the construction site has no temporary barriers and enclosures, the construction supervision is nothing ... all highlight Taiwanese culture of carelessness. Every time when the public forgot the tragedy, the government forget an all-round implementation, till the next tragedy, the cycle never ends. Taiwan's political culture makes politicians to only has a short-term plan ― please voters is a priority, do simple things, and sweep all real problems under the carpet. talk.ltn.com.tw/article/paper/1441429
★ Apple Daily, editorial, 2021-4-6: Complicity Structure and cheating culture between Taiwan railway and contractors. Those contractors were already overshadowed by some scandals on "bid rigging", but officials turned a blind eye to them. The internal control and audit system are bad. tw.appledaily.com/headline/20210406/ZQ32X7BV5BEQ7K3Q5PPAK7G7IY/
★ Apple Daily, editorial, 2021-4-5: To solve the problem, you must find the right antidote ― all major accidents should be consequential to top politicians . tw.appledaily.com/headline/20210405/HWFESCVKDVC6DEBTPHQHMUUIMQ/
★ Apple Daily, editorial, 2021-4-4: The S.O.P for public constructions should be as strict and precise as that in Europe or Japan. Make students to learn work ethics osmotically in national education. tw.appledaily.com/headline/20210404/EZXPWNUCNRE6FM6FF23QHLIQWQ/
★ UDN, CTN, Apple Daily, editorial、2021-4-3: Serious transportation accidents repeat - all are SOP ignoring man-made disasters, no one treats seriously the warning message behind each accident, The gov. is good at risk management and focus-shifting, instead of preventive management in advance, all these lead to tragedy again and again. The event is just a tip of a iceberg, Taiwan should establish a culture respecting human life. Taiwan railway bureau got rigid grading system and reform failure. (brief)
★ Apple Daily, 2021-4-10, editorial: The bane of Taiwan- backward infrastructures, e.g., no early-warning system for railway train, pollution in stream, dam, reservoir deposition
★ United Daily, editorial, 2021-4-26: Taiwanese government does not dare to face the pressure of losing election, therefore the fake railway reform meeting did not touch the core problems - reorganization and price policy, etc. udn.com/news/story/11091/5413093?from=udn-catehotnews_ch2
Other
fatal
train
accidents
ref. to
<New York Times>:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/world/asia/taiwan-train-crash.html
..............●
2018 :
The
island's worst rail disaster in more than three decades. Taiwan Train Accident in biggest curve in
Taiwan Kills at Least 18 and Injures about 187 Others
( ps: CTV (中視新聞)
19:45pm, 10-22-2018, Prosecutor: over-speed might be the cause
of accident, other suspicious points under investigation
include "Automatic Train Protection (ATP)" being turned off,
abnormal track, etc; ps2: CTV 20:30pm, 10-22-2018 : speed
140km, should be 80km or 65 km)
United Daily News, 12-4-2018, editorial : Reviewing the
train accident is a shit, find out the truth? or cover the truth
? Taiwan's investigations of disaster (except aviation)
events have been always distorted, once judiciary and control
power are involved, the clarification goes afar ...
("普悠瑪檢討 簡直敷衍了事"
"了解真相 還是掩蓋真相"，
台灣災害調查情境，一直處於扭曲局面，除飛航事件之外，
一旦司法權刑事、
監察權行政介入，
純粹釐清真相即遙不可及) ... (brief)
..............●
2011:
at least six people were killed and more
than 50 others injured after a tree collapsed into the path of a
tourist train also serving Ali Mountain.
..............●
2003:
last crash of a similar scale taking
place in 2003, when a train serving the mountain tourist
destination of Ali Mountain derailed, killing 17 people and
injuring 156 others.
..............●
1981:
a collision in Miaoli County, in the island’s
northwest, killed 31 people
Apple Daily, 10-29-2018: Taiwan's train
太魯閣號 brake acting up is still running on the railway
United Daily, 10-29-2018, headline news: Taiwan president: Find
out systematic problem !
(2)
Tourist-bus
accidents
..................United Daily, 2021-4-10, editorial:
The death rate of traffic accident (8+ per day) is higher than hat of
many backward countries. Large-bus structure is problematic -
Jerry-built
or bad
safety specification.
So many gods are hidden in the detail
!! Taiwan Transportation
Board
should be unbiased,
e.g., In UH-60
"Black Hawk"
accident event, TTB's political incorrectness immediately was suffered military
pressure, and then be silent.
udn.com/news/story/7338/5378039?from=udn_ch2_menu_v2_main_cate
..................United Daily News 1-20-2020: The death rate caused
by traffic accidents in Taiwan is 5 times that in Japan.
..................United Daily News 6-12-2019: 42 died in the high way in
recent 2 years, do we have enough lessons?
2 days ago 3 died in <阿囉哈> bus, the government reviews the same issue again and
again ...
Japan, USA, Canada ... issued warnings to their citizen-tourists to Taiwan
|
|
◎
Foreign countries' warning messages
Bad road designs, vehicles and motorcycle all mix on the road ... Japan, the US, Canada issued warnings to their citizens again and again, be cautious of transportation safety while staying in Taiwan. ◎ Canada government also issued warning messages, like bad drivers, bad road condition, pedestrians not in orders, roads in mountains lack of maintenance, riding motorcycle is dangerous ...
◎
Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's warnings :( Japanese version as pic. left) as below:
●
Taiwan has "bus
exclusive lane"！
No other vehicles are allowed to
drive there. |
|
pic. from website of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association |
|
| 台灣交通太可怕 日本美國加拿大各國早示警 |
Tourist-bus accidents again and again in Taiwan ― The United Daily (2-15-2017, front-page):
So many self-criticisms in the past never stop next tragedy !
●
2017 tour bus accidents
...................◆
The SUN, BBC (UK)
2-13-2017: "BUS CRASH HORROR!" , Taiwan's tour bus "has come under fire
in recent months over safety standards"...;
...................◆ TTV HD (14:21pm 2-14-2017), CCTV(China): Taiwan laws in vain, lax management (administration)
makes disasters.
...................◆ Apple Daily, Editorial (2-15-2017): Such
a high casualty rate most likely ranks No.1 among all civilized states in the
world, public opinions and official blames are useless at all, because they saw
right through the government, called government's bluff ...
...................◆
...................◆tv.ifeng凤凰视频
"The most miserable
bus accident ( at least 33 dead ) in Taiwan history"；
Studies:
Taiwan's tour-bus problems:
| Taiwan travel |
(1) Drivers overwork/overtime ― many work longer than the time-limits in the US (California
10 hrs per day) ,Euro. , Japan, Thailand, etc .
(4)
Most tour-bus
are
top-heavy & bottom-light, unbalanced
architecture
―
narrow vehicle width/length
( max 2.49 m, not Euro. standard 2.55m) being assembled with imported Euro. chassis.
|
2016 tour bus accidents
...................●
Chinese official news (People Daily's Global Times 環球時報 7-19-2016 editorial) : Taiwan's tourism
system are flawed, how can they goof off year after
year?? tourists are gambling their lives if Taiwan still won't take any step to change
this ...
...................●
People's Daily (China) editorial
(8-4-2016): Chinese tourists not dare to visit Taiwan in the future
without safety assurance / Taiwan tour disasters are sort of
man-made disasters ,
Taiwan tourism's major problems
include loopholes in
law and regulation、careless
mistakes in administration 、or
not-good-enough system of organization, other
malpractices are traveling load-bearing capacity (旅遊承載能力)、road-traffic
safety 、aviation
safety、road maintenance 、safety
standard for tour bus、Modified
Automobiles/Fix-up tour bus、Low-end
tour groups …
traveling accidents happening again and again open
Pandora's box, too many tourist victims reveal Taiwan tourism's problems, Taiwan
authority tried to do something (亡羊補牢)
each time a tragic accident occurred, but it seemed late and same kind of
tragedies never cease.
(brief)
...................● Apple Daily
(7-20-2016) : Since Taiwan opened to Chinese tourists in 2008, in total 90 Chinese tourists
died, 390 injured, 62%
dead/injury was caused by tour bus; The Guardian (UK)
7-19-2016: Taiwan tourist bus fire kills all (Chinese tourists ) on board...
Apple Daily (7-20-2016 head-page) : "The most miserable & tragic bus accident in Taiwan history"；
3 major problems in tour bus:
| Taiwan travel |
(1) bus structure / United
Daily (7-20-2016): Taiwan's tour bus is vulnerable because of assembling Taiwan's bus-body with
imported chassis ; Hitravel.tv (寰宇新聞二台,
7-19-2016 8:16pm): Taiwan's assembled buses are top-heavy &
unbalanced in architectures, bus becomes weak tofu while encountering traffic
accident. TVBS : Taiwan tour bus bad welding ... details ref
to http://news.tvbs.com.tw/entry/319226;
|
How to survive in Taiwan's bus fire:
| Taiwan travel |
★
Apple Daily (7-20-2016): Min-Chuan Univ. professor: In Taiwan's tour bus, the
best seat is behind the driver, and avoid the last few rows.
|
...................● The China Times
(12-16-2015）:The PRC government (State Council Office for Taiwan
Affairs) concerned and urged Taiwan to take traffic accidents
frequently happened to Chinese tourists groups seriously.
(車禍頻傳國台辦促台重視) The UDN video (2-3-2016): Chinese tourists groups traffic
accidents in HuaLien, 18 persons injured.
...................●
The China Times
(3-3-2016）editorial:
suggest using small or middle sized tour bus
with carbon fiber top/roof for safety for
trips to HuaLien.
201x tour bus accidents
...................● Serious accident in 2010 - a tour bus fell into the sea in HuaLien, all tourists on board were killed. (China Times, 7-20-2016 : a horrible coincidence, the number of death in 2010's bus accident is same as that in 2016 )
● ps: Taiwan's train and high-speed train - comparatively safe.
◆ Although Rough Guides (UK, 2017) reported "High-speed trains will whizz you out of cities to steamy forests and jagged mountains", however, tourists still need to take vehicle into the mountains/forest, in most cases. Telegraph (1-25-2017) "The 50 greatest train journeys on Earth" introduced the excellent and frequently scenic railway network to visit Neiwan, for traditional Hakka cuisine, and Tainan, the Alishan (A-Li ) Mountain Railway, was built to extract logs from the forest but now provides access to a magnificent vantage point for sunrise.
◆
Wikipedia:
3-1-2003 A-Li forest railway train accident, the biggest
ever disaster - 17 death, 205 wounded/injured。
Baidu: 4-27-2011 A-Li forest train accident again, Taiwan
media again questioned the safety of this train. Apple Daily (蘋果日報
4-28-2011): A-Li-Shan forest train (350 Chinese tourists loaded) accident caused
5 death, 107 injured/wounded.
★★◎
●
(3)
Taiwan's
aviation safety
-
...................MSN, Reuters, EuroNews, Mirro(UK), NewsWeek, CNN, etc (2-4-2015) :"Taiwan has had a
poor
aviation safety record in recent years" , full text pls.
click...
Taiwan's aviation
safety
...................
|
●
|
|
| ●● | PIC: moving coffins and flying coffin / 2010-2017 2-4-2017 tour-bus traffic accident again in Kaohsiung Taiwan - 21 tourists are injured
|
