Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) expressed condolences at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting for those killed in Monday’s fatal crash outside Bei Da Elementary School in Sanxia, New Taipei City. He urged the Health Ministry, Education Ministry, and New Taipei City Government to help traumatized students and teachers return to normal life.
The tragedy unfolded when a 78-year-old man ran a red light and crashed into a group of pedestrians, killing three and injuring over a dozen—many of them students. The incident has sparked national debate on elderly driver regulations and traffic safety reforms.
Student Pedestrian Union head Wang Chin-chien (王晉謙) criticized Taiwan’s lack of effective mechanisms to remove unfit drivers, calling it a major weakness in the country’s road safety system. He questioned why drivers over 75 need only pass basic physical and cognitive tests, with no assessment of actual driving ability. Wang urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to enforce retraining for older drivers, especially those licensed decades ago.
Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance Chair Luna Chen (陳愷寧) said an upcoming protest will include teachers, students, transportation experts, police, medical workers, and lawmakers. Civil groups will demand three key reforms: comprehensive driver retraining, elderly license renewal reform, and improvements to road infrastructure.
The Student Pedestrian Union and Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance will lead the “Protect the Next Generation” march on May 25 from the Legislature to the Transportation Ministry, urging swift action to prevent future tragedies.