Wait at traffic lights reduced to stop Taiwanese seeing red

TAIPEI authorities are reducing traffic light lengths this summer to give scooter riders and pedestrians some relief from the sweltering summer heat, with temperatures expected to soar to the mid-30s celsius in the coming days.

The Taiwanese capital’s summers are hot and humid and authorities regularly provide advice on how to avoid heat stroke and sunburn.

This weather would be “very uncomfortable for motorcycles and pedestrians stopping and being exposed to the sun”, Wang Yao-to, director of the Traffic Engineering Office, said.

Around 770 intersections will have traffic signal cycle lengths reduced by an average of 30 seconds until Sept 1, with the biggest reduction at one intersection of 95 seconds.

Taipei’s busy roads and their long lights have long attracted the ire of local residents. Waits of 70-80 seconds or more at large intersections are common and some red lights last more than three minutes.

“My whole head is dripping with sweat,” one scooter rider told the Sanlih TV network. Another complained that the sweat caused his skin to break out in prickly pain.

The city’s traffic office made similar changes in the summer of 2019 because of the risk of heat to pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Mr Wang said this was a substantially more generous relaxation than in previous years, with more intersections benefitting from the reductions.

“We have the lowest traffic of the year in Taipei in July and August due to less vehicles on the road during the summer vacations,” Mr Wang said at a virtual press conference.

“Besides, due to the effects of the pandemic, there is five to eight per cent less traffic in Taipei this year, giving us a basis to make the adjustment.”