The Ministry of Transportation plans to extend the number of classes for drunk driving and recidivism to 15 hours, and add a new class for recidivism of driving without a license under the age of 18.

Hsinchu District Supervision Office Miaoli Supervision Station conducts road safety training courses for repeat drunk driving offenders at the Toufen Municipal Funeral Home. (File photo, provided by Miaoli Supervision Station)

The Highway Bureau of the Ministry of Transport is expected to extend the training hours of the "Drunk Driving Recidivism Class" and add a new "Unlicensed Driving Recidivism Class for Under 18s", which is expected to be on the road at the end of September. By extending the learning time, the wrong behavior will be improved and the possibility of recidivism will be reduced.

The Highway Bureau previously announced a series of new measures to improve traffic safety. The first is motorcycle road driving training. It is expected to promote motorcycle road driving training by the end of September, including details of driving training classes. The second is to add the "Recidivism Class for Unlicensed Driving Under 18", extend the "Training Class for Recidivism", and "Drunk Driving Recidivism Class", which are expected to be on the road simultaneously at the end of September.

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Regarding the training hours for aggravated violations, the Ministry of Transportation has previously explained the details, and will extend the training hours for re-offender classes from 4 hours to 6 hours. The hours for re-offense classes for drunk driving will also increase, from 12 hours to 15 hours. A new class for re-offenders of driving without a license under the age of 18 will be added for 6 hours.

The Highway Bureau explained that for drivers who have received training in the past, but if they violate the rules again, it shows that their understanding of road safety is still insufficient, and they can improve their wrong behavior and reduce the possibility of recurrence by extending the learning time. These new measures are expected to be put on the road at the end of September, and the Highway Bureau will gradually announce implementation details.

In the past five years, the number of people under the age of 18 reported for violations without a license has been on a downward trend, from 38,421 in 2021 to 19,064 last year. In the new system that will be on the road at the end of September, the extension of recidivism classes includes the addition of a new class for unlicensed reoffenders under 18 years old, and the extension of the training hours of recidivism classes and drunk driving recidivism classes.

The Highway Bureau explained that the violations include those who are underage driving without a license again, those who are drunk driving again, and those who have participated in road safety training within one year and have violated the regulations and need to receive training. According to statistics, last year, 3,790 people under the age of 18 were notified of re-offending unlicensed driving violations; 22,898 people were notified of re-offending classes; 1,932 people were notified of re-offending classes for drunk driving violations. A total of 28,620 people will be eligible for the new system after it goes on the road.

In addition, the Highway Bureau also expects to promote motorcycle road driving training at the end of September. Details such as whether the relevant training is mandatory and subsidized, etc. The Highway Bureau stated that it is still in planning and is expected to explain the implementation details to the public at the end of September.

☆Excessive drinking is harmful to health. Drunk driving is prohibited☆