Tainan microcar accidents increase by 44% year-on-year; Assemblyman Lanying calls for subsidies to be included in safety management

Traffic accidents involving micro-electric two-wheelers in Tainan City continue to rise, with an annual increase of 44%. Lanying Councilors Li Zhongcen and Cai Zonghao held a press conference today to call on the city government to face up to the shortcomings in microcar traffic safety management, comprehensively review the car purchase subsidy system, and include traffic safety education, high-risk driver qualification review, and vehicle compliance inspection into the subsidy package.

Micro electric two-wheelers are affordable, do not require a driver's license, and can be ridden by those aged 14 or above. They have become a transportation choice for teenagers, migrant workers and the elderly. However, problems such as traffic accidents, illegal modifications and drunk and drug driving have also arisen. According to statistics from the Ministry of Transportation, there were 1,274 micro-electric two-wheeled traffic accidents in Tainan City from January to September, an increase of 44% from the previous period; there were 573 accidents among teenagers aged 13 to 17 years old.

Tainan City has been promoting micro electric two-wheel vehicle purchase subsidies since 2023. At that time, it provided subsidies of 3,000 yuan and 1,500 yuan respectively for replacing old vehicles with new ones and purchasing new vehicles. Li Zhongcen and Cai Zonghao believe that in order to reduce people's car purchase burden through subsidies, a complete safety management package should be established simultaneously to ensure that subsidized vehicles and users comply with relevant safety regulations. Two people put forward suggestions to strengthen the subsidy qualification review for high-risk drivers, include traffic safety training as a necessary condition for subsidy, and study the issuance of subsidies in installments in conjunction with the vehicle regular inspection system to reduce the problem of illegal modifications.