One person was killed when a fatigued bus driver drove onto a sidewalk in Taipei on Sept. 21. Following the accident, the bus driver confessed he had taken drugs the previous week. Some believe it's possible that bus drivers use illegal methods to stay awake.


A bus operated by Sanchung Bus drove onto a sidewalk in Taipei's Neihu District on Sept. 21, killing a pedestrian. Following the accident, the driver confessed to taking drugs the previous week. At present, the government only requires transport companies to drug test 25 percent of drivers every year. Those whose tests are positive will not be allowed to drive until subsequent tests come back clean. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications admits this regulation is too lax, and it will ask the Directorate General of Highways to work with local governments to prevent bus drivers from abusing drugs.

The relevant regulations are relatively unclear for passenger transport companies and tour bus companies. With regards to implementation, we will ask the Directorate General of Highways to coordinate with local governments to strengthen their supervision.

The MOTC said taxi drivers need to maintain a clean record for 12 years in order to register to work. Meanwhile, Taiwan Railways Administration and Taiwan High Speed Rail will repeal the train driving licenses of any driver who takes drugs. The motor transport industry needs more stringent controls. Meanwhile, the Taiwan Motor Transport Company Union said some drivers turn to illegal methods out of desperation because their salaries are low, their hours are long, and they are frequently overworked.

Some drivers rely on energy drinks, and a small number will (take drugs) to achieve the energy level needed for their work.

The union called on the government to address the issues of overwork and companies using all types of methods to avert labor inspections. Meanwhile, some Taipei City councilors said drugs might not be detectable within 24 hours after use and therefore the government should ban anyone with a record of drug use from working as a driver in the passenger transport industry.



21號在台北市內湖，衝撞人行道的三重客運駕駛，坦承上週曾吸毒，目前政府對於客運業，只要求每年對25%的駕駛抽檢，若有陽性反不得開車，直到驗出沒吸毒反應為止。交通部坦承，這部分確實會有遺漏，將要求公路總局會同地方政府，全面檢討來防堵客運駕駛吸毒

交通部長 林佳龍表示：「客運公車跟遊覽車方面，那這個相關的規定，比較不明確。這執行層面，我們會請公路總局，來協調地方政府，來加強監督。」

交通部表示，計程車業12年內沒有吸毒紀錄，才能夠辦理"計程車駕駛人執業登記"。台鐵高鐵則規範司機員，一旦吸毒就廢除鐵路駕駛執照，客運業確實要更加嚴密把關。台灣汽車客運產業工會則揭露，因客運駕駛薪水低工時長，長期過勞下，不排除是鋌而走險用不法手段提神。

台灣汽車客運業產業工會 理事 范光明表示：「其實有的司機就變成說，因為以前可能是靠提神飲料。少部分司機，可能會用這個方式(毒品)，去讓自己達成，他想要的一個工作的精神，那是有可能會發生的。」

工會呼籲，政府應重視客運業長期過勞，並以各種手法規避勞檢的事實，而也有台北市議員質疑，吸毒24小時後人體可能檢驗不出來，因此，政府應該規範，一旦有吸毒紀錄，就不得擔任客運業駕駛。