The Ministry of Transport announces amendments to the law, and 100% of traffic violation fines will be used to improve traffic safety

The current distribution of revenue from traffic violation fines mostly goes into local government and city treasury. When local governments issue more fines, the more revenue they receive, which generates public complaints and criticisms about "grabbing money." (File photo)

The local government's small coffers are gone. The Ministry of Communications has announced that the law will be revised and the annual funding will be about 20 billion. It is expected to be implemented in the next year.

The Ministry of Transportation has announced an amendment to the "Measures for Allocation and Utilization of Road Traffic Violation Fine Revenues", clarifying that the proportion of future road traffic fine revenue allocated to improving traffic safety and law enforcement will be increased from the current "at least 12%" to "100%", and each county and city government must regularly disclose the collection and implementation progress of fine revenue every six months and accept supervision; statistics show that approximately 20 billion yuan a year can be fully invested in improving road safety, and it is expected to be put on the road in 2028.

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The provision rate is increased from 12% to 100% and the progress is disclosed every six months.

The current allocation of fines for traffic violations varies according to the reporting agency and jurisdiction. 75% of the cases reported by municipalities and county (city) governments go to various places, especially in some areas of the six capitals, as high as 99%; 24% is allocated to the punishment agency; 1% is paid to the national treasury. Since the vast majority of fine revenue goes into the local government and municipal treasury, the more local fines are issued, the greater the income, which generates public resentment and criticism for "stealing money."

Hu Diqi, director of the Department of Public Transport and Supervision of the Ministry of Transport, said that the purpose of amending the law is to "take it from traffic and use it for traffic." The revenue from fines can be used to truly improve traffic. The budget can be used for substantive projects such as optimization of signs and markings, renovation of overpasses and underpasses, and addition of guardrails and reflectors according to the accident hot spots in the jurisdiction. Local governments must announce the implementation results every six months; the new law is expected to be put on the road in 2028. Based on the approximately NT$20.5 billion in fines allocated to local governments last year, it is estimated that after the new system is implemented, it is estimated that more than NT$18 billion in real road safety resources will be injected into the system every year.

According to statistics, the top five counties and cities in fine revenue last year were New Taipei City with 36. 7.7 billion yuan, Taipei City 31. 5.3 billion yuan, Taichung City 28. 9.3 billion yuan, Taoyuan City 25. 0.7 billion yuan, Kaohsiung City 24. 8.2 billion yuan.

Improvement of accident hotspots and driver education, scholars listed as priority targets

Li Kecong, convener of the Transportation Committee of the Consumer Foundation, said that traffic engineering in hot spots of traffic accidents needs to be improved urgently, and driving education, school education, and community traffic safety education can also be strengthened. For example, driving education for the elderly can be carried out in the community, and the Ministry of Transport can also cooperate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen the social safety net and reduce the risks of high-risk groups, drunk driving, and drug-driving on the road.

Chen Yongqin, honorary chairman of the Society of Automotive Driving Education, said that when fine revenue is invested in road safety, it can first improve pedestrian shelter islands, pedestrian crossings, road lighting and access roads around schools. It is also necessary to pay attention to the re-education of "professional driving", including subject and safe driving training, and pointed out that there is room for improvement in traffic safety education for teenagers and the elderly, including defensive driving, bicycle riding safety, large wheel discs, vehicle simulator training, etc.

The pedestrian rights-of-way group "Return Roads to the People" affirms the direction of the new law and reminds the Ministry of Transportation to continue to improve the "setting rules" and relevant regulations on engineering aspects, so that local governments can better comply and make the funds more effective.

The Ministry of Transport has announced a new revenue system for traffic violation fines, and 100% of fine revenue must be used to improve traffic safety. (Provided by the Ministry of Transportation)

The Ministry of Transportation announced a new system for collecting traffic violation fines. (Photo by reporter Wu Liangyi)