On April 11, the Kaohsiung City Government held a seminar on traffic safety and accident prevention with the chiefs of all districts. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-jung, with participation from the Civil Affairs Bureau, Transportation Bureau, Police Department, Kaohsiung Motor Vehicles Office, and Kaohsiung City Motor Vehicles Office. The discussion focused on senior driver management, traffic accident prevention, and collaborative governance at the district level.
Deputy Mayor Lin emphasized that protecting traffic safety and the well-being of the elderly is a core priority of the city administration. As the most grassroots-level agencies, district offices are best positioned to influence local communities. Through neighborhood networks, traffic safety policies can be introduced into communities and effectively implemented at the household level.
During the seminar, the Transportation Bureau presented an analysis of traffic accident characteristics across the city’s 38 administrative districts. In 2024, the majority of traffic accidents occurred at intersections (57%), followed by mid-road segments (43%). In terms of collision types, side-impact crashes were the most common (43%), followed by single-vehicle crashes or falls (23%). The leading causes were failure to observe conditions ahead (24%), failure to yield as required (18%), and traffic signal violations (13%). Based on this data, the Bureau has developed targeted safety promotion techniques and supporting measures aimed at specific high-risk groups and behavioral indicators.
As of the end of 2024, residents aged 65 and above comprised 19.93% of Kaohsiung’s population. The Motor Vehicles Offices shared updates on the senior driver license renewal system and the deployment of mobile licensing services in local communities. They stressed the urgent need to strengthen traffic safety promotion for seniors, along with the importance of family support.
To expand the reach of traffic safety advocacy, district offices will utilize various channels such as LED display boards, bulletin boards, printed materials, and official correspondence. Additionally, traffic safety concepts will be promoted at neighborhood assemblies and community events. District office staff are also encouraged to join the ranks of “Traffic Safety Ambassadors,” making use of government-provided outreach materials and lesson plans to enhance education and care for core groups such as seniors, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
By leveraging neighborhood networks to disseminate traffic safety concepts, public awareness can be significantly enhanced, reducing accident rates and enabling citizens to travel with peace of mind and return home safely—working together to build a safe and livable Kaohsiung City.
