Taiwan to end fine for pedestrians crossing while 'little green man' flashes

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — From April, pedestrians in Taiwan will no longer be fined for stepping onto a crosswalk when the walk signal is flashing, after the Ministry of Transportation and Communications revised rules to clarify the meaning of the flashing green light and improve safety.

KMT Taipei City Councilor Chan Wei-yuan (詹為元) said a recent incident in Taichung, where a pedestrian crossed after the “little green man” began flashing and was ticketed, sparked online debate. Many questioned why crossing on a green light could still be considered a violation.

The ministry said a flashing green pedestrian signal warns that the green-light period is about to end. Pedestrians who have not yet entered the road are advised to wait rather than step onto the street.

It emphasized the flashing signal is not meant to urge pedestrians to hurry across, but to indicate they should wait before entering the road. Current regulations, however, prohibit those who have not yet stepped onto the street from doing so, which has led to some being penalized.

To address this, the ministry announced a draft amendment to Article 207 of the Regulations on Establishing Traffic Signs and Indicating Lines. The change relaxes the restriction to prevent unnecessary penalties and is expected to take effect in April, it said, improving pedestrian safety, especially for the elderly.