MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT IN HSUEHSHAN TUNNEL TO BE RAISED TO 70 KM FROM MARCH |雪隧四月抓龜速車 最低速限訂70公里

The Hsuehshan Tunnel is Yilan's most important transport link. But since its first days it has been plagued by traffic congestions, which some believe is caused by vehicles traveling too slowly in the tunnel. The Directorate General of Highways decided that from March it would raise the minimum speed in the tunnel from 60 to 70 kilometers an hour. Starting in April, the new rule would be enforced by the police, and potentially by sensors and cameras as well. On weekends and holidays, traffic in the Hsuehshan Tunnel is always congested. Vehicles in the tunnel cannot change lanes and anyone driving too slowly creates a tailback. To solve the issue of slow driving, the Directorate General of Highways announced that from March the minimum speed in the tunnel would be raised from 60 kilometers an hour to 70. ==MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC== I think at 70 the traffic would flow more smoothly, otherwise driving at 60 is really too slow, every time I am in there I get angry driving. ==MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC== The speed in Hsuehshan Tunnel could quite reasonably be raised. Analysts believe that slow cars in lanes are the reason for traffic congestion. If technological means are used for enforcement, then a camera would be needed every 1.6 kilometers in the tunnel with 16 in total. The maximum fine for a return journey to Yilan would be NT$48,000. However, some people worry that if there is a slow vehicle in front of them, then the cars behind may also be fined. The DGH said it would first use the warning loudspeaker system and then have someone judge the speed, so it wouldn't just fine without any grounds. ==SONG SUNG Section Head, MOTC DGH== For one month after implementation, we will publicise the new minimum speed, then after that, we will enforce it. Highway police have their own speed limit enforcement, and as well as this there will be automatic speed enforcement equipment introduced into Hsuehshan Tunnel itself. Throughout March, the new minimum speed will be publicised for drivers to get used to it, and from April there will be fines for slow driving, speeding, changing lanes, and driving dangerously close to another vehicle with the goal of alleviating traffic congestion in the tunnel. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR 雪隧是宜蘭聯外重要的交通要道，外界則認為龜速車是造成塞車的主因，為解決雪隧壅塞，高公局預計從3月份開始，將雪隧最低速限從60公里提升至70公里，4月開始人工取締，至於科技執法是否同時上路還沒定案。 每到假日，雪隧總是湧入壅擠的車潮，因為不能變換車道，只要有人開太慢就會造成整條大塞車，為了為減少國道5號雪山隧道龜速車問題，高公局打算3月起，將雪隧最低速限從60公里提升到70公里。 ==民眾== 我覺得70對整個(交通) 會比較順暢 會比較有幫助 不然每個都用60在開 真的是太慢了 我每次開在裡面 都開到很生氣 ==民眾== 雪山隧道照理講 車速還可以再加一下 慢速車佔用車道被專家認為是造成塞車的主因，若科技執法系統正式啟用，整條雪隧內每1.6公里設置一台相機，共設置16台，宜蘭台北來回最高就可開罰到4萬8千元。不過也有民眾擔心，要是前方龜速車行駛太慢，被擋在後方車輛是否因此受到牽連，高公局表示，會先廣播，進行人為判斷，不會隨意開罰。 ==交通部高公局科長 宋嵩== 在實施以後 會有一個月的宣導期 宣導期後就開始做執法 執法部分 除非是國道公路警察局 他們有一般的 針對速限的執法外 另外針對後續 也會有雪山隧道的 自動執法設備 也會陸續上線 3月宣導期、希望能讓駕駛人習慣並遵守最低速限，4月除了人工取締龜速車外，也會針對超速、任意變換車道、惡意逼車等項違規進行取締，希望能有效解決塞車問題。 記者 綜合報導