QUIET TRAFFIC ZONES PLANNED FOR CITIES, BUT NO ENFORCEMENT|雙北"交通寧靜區"行之有年 取締少成效差

Fast moving cars can be a threat to pedestrians, especially in those narrow streets and lanes. That's why the transportation Ministry is planning to expand so-called "quiet traffic zones" in six of Taiwan's municipalities, where the speed limit is set at 30 kilometres per hour. But some criticized the new policy will cause traffic jams and will be difficult to implement effectively due to a lack of manpower. This road is located in a "quiet traffic zone" next to an elementary school in New Taipei City's Banciao. The road is less than six meters wide, and part of it is taken up by a green pedestrian lane. The speed limit here is 30 kilometers per hour. What is a quiet traffic zone? These zones can be found in residential and commercial districts and around schools and medical facilities where sidewalks are narrow or roads are less than 12 meters wide. ==YEH YAO-DUN Chief, New Taipei City Traffic Control, Engineering Div. == The implementation of the new policy caused few objections. The measures are mainly in small lanes, alleys, and minor roads. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications recently announced plans to expand quiet zones to all six special municipalities. ==MR TSAO member of public, Tainan City== There is traffic whenever the department stores here have events. It would be safer if everyone slowed down. == MR CHENG member of public Tainan City== The speed limit is too low for commercial shopping centers and will definitely cause traffic jams. However, Taipei and New Taipei have had these zones in place for years to no effect because most drivers break the speed limit driving through them. ==CHIU TSAN-KUN Dep. Chief Engineer, Taipei City Traffic Eng. Office == The policy currently has warning signs of a slowdown. However, we will publicize it and gradually instill proper road use concepts in our people to slow down and yield to the pedestrians wherever they pass through residential zones and narrow lanes. Some say quiet traffic zones in commercial districts will be a public nuisance and cause traffic jams. Transport officials in Taipei and New Taipei say their quiet zones are not enforced due to a lack of manpower, but quiet zones exist in many developed nations and they will continue trying to instill proper road use concepts in Taiwanese people. TRANSLATED BY：EMA FU 交通部打算優先在6都設置交通寧靜區，最高速限30公里，來改善弱勢用路人安全。其實，雙北早已實行多年，不過行經交通寧靜區的車輛、多半都超速。雙北交通局也坦承，取締人力確實不足，將會繼續推廣、培養國人正確用路觀念。 不到六公尺寬的道路上，旁邊有著綠色行人專用道，這裡是新北市板橋後埔國小旁的''交通寧靜區''。路面還可以看見，標記限速30公里的標記，要提醒汽機車駕駛，行經這個路段時，必須減速慢行。 ==新北市民眾 簡先生== 基本上都超過30公里以上 都沒什麼用 ==台北市民眾 張女士== 這個也要慢慢宣導 你不能馬上一下子就實施 像摩托車過去就不只30了 什麼是交通寧靜區?像是住宅學區、醫療場所，甚至像是人潮比較多的商場周圍，如果人行道過小、或是12米以下道路，就會因地制宜來設置交通寧靜區。 ==新北市交通局交管科長 葉燿墩== 這塊我們目前實施 大概沒有 其他太多的聲音 我們在做 也會針對 主要都針對一些巷弄巷道的部分 來做一些處理 跟次要道路的部分 雙北地區大多早已經完成設置。現在交通部打算擴大範圍，希望6都，都能全面設置完成。 ==台南市民眾 曹先生== 如果說這邊百貨公司辦活動的話 其實車子蠻多的 大家開慢一點也比較安全 ==台南市民眾 鄭先生== （如果像商業購物區的話） 30有點太低 一定會塞到爆 不過實際站在寧靜區，行經的汽機車，大多都超速。外界質疑在人潮眾多的商場，設置交通寧靜區，不但擾民還可能造成塞車。交通局也坦承，取締人力的確不足，不過先進國家早就推行，將會繼續推廣、培養國人正確用路觀念。 記者李志華 謝其文 溫正衡 綜合報導