Police seize suspected drug‑driving truck driver in Snow Mountain tunnel again

The Xueshan Tunnel, a key segment of National Highway No. 5 that links Hsinchu City and Yilan County, traverses the Central Mountain Range and the Xueshan Range and is a well‑known expressway. In recent years the tunnel has drawn public attention because of a series of traffic accidents. This afternoon, police stopped a small truck suspected of driving under the influence on the northbound section of the Xueshan Tunnel, an incident that has attracted outside interest.

According to a report by the Central News Agency, the truck swerved side to side while traveling through the northbound section of the tunnel, prompting officers to conduct a roadside inspection. After checking the driver, a man surnamed Li was found to be under the influence of alcohol. Police charged Mr. Li with public endangerment and transferred him to the prosecutor for criminal proceedings.

The incident has renewed focus on the problem of drunk driving. Statistics from the Directorate General of Highways, Ministry of Transportation and Communications show that the number of drunk‑driving cases has been rising in recent years. Driving while intoxicated endangers the lives of drivers and passengers and also threatens the safety of other road users.

The Xueshan Tunnel is not new to such offenses. In February of this year, a drunk‑driving crash occurred in the tunnel in which the driver’s blood‑alcohol concentration exceeded 0.25 percent, resulting in injuries to two people. That crash brought the issue of intoxicated driving in the tunnel back into the spotlight.

Drunk‑driving incidents have also been reported on other routes. Last year, a drunk‑driving accident on National Highway No. 1 in Hsinchu City involved a driver whose blood‑alcohol concentration also exceeded 0.25 percent and caused injury to a passenger.

Addressing drunk driving requires a collective effort from the public. In addition to strengthening road patrols and inspections, education and public awareness campaigns are needed to inform people of the dangers and legal consequences of driving while intoxicated. The government must also implement robust policies and measures to impose severe penalties on such behavior.

The recent case in the Xueshan Tunnel underscores the hazards and repercussions of drunk driving and reinforces the hope that, through joint effort, roads can become safer and lives more valued.

Source: Central News Agency