Taiwan: Road safety activists to rally islandwide March 23

Activists from several road safety groups, such as Zero Pedestrian Death Promotion Alliance and Vision Zero TW Association, plan to launch simultaneous rallies islandwide in major cities, including Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei, Taoyuan, and Yunlin from 18:00 March 23. Organizers will also hold a rally in Taipei 14:00-16:00 on the same day; participants will march from the Legislative Yuan towards Taipei Station before returning to the Legislative Yuan to hold a protest. The action is part of a series of demonstrations to demand several concessions from the government, such as strengthening traffic law enforcement and reforming driving education. While turnout remains unclear, dozens to a few hundred people could attend each gathering; rallies in Taipei may see a higher turnout. The events are likely to pass peacefully.

Heightened security measures, including the deployment of additional police personnel and the erection of security barricades, are likely around the Legislative Yuan and other protest sites. Associated localized transport disruptions are probable. Isolated scuffles between security forces and demonstrators are possible if the former attempts to disperse the gathering. Based on precedent, participants may march along Ketagalan Boulevard and Zhongshan South Road, potentially causing increased vehicular congestion and road closures.