Miaoli County Adjusts Speed Limit on Highway 29 to Protect Pangolins, Ease Public Complaints

Miaoli County government has decided to adjust the speed limit on Provincial Highway 29 (Miaoli 29 line) in the Houlong section to better protect the Formosan pangolin while addressing public concerns. The new regulation will set the speed limit at 50 kilometers per hour during the day and maintain it at 40 km/h at night, effective August 17.

The stretch of Provincial Highway 29, from kilometer 0 to kilometer 3.586, runs alongside shallow hills and the Houlong River, serving as a habitat for wildlife, including the Formosan pangolin. These animals often cross the road to access water and food sources, leading to frequent "roadkill" incidents. To mitigate this, the county government had previously installed fencing and underground culverts to guide wildlife and set the speed limit at 40 km/h.

However, County Councilor Cheng Chiu-feng argued that the 40 km/h limit on the 20-meter-wide, four-lane road was unreasonable. He noted that many drivers were frequently penalized for speeding, with some even having their licenses suspended, causing public discontent. In response, County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin tasked relevant departments with reviewing the speed limit.

After site inspections and discussions at the Road Safety Committee meeting, the decision was made to implement time-based speed limits. The daytime limit (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) will be raised to 50 km/h, while the nighttime limit (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) will remain at 40 km/h. The Department of Transportation and Public Works stated that relevant speed limit signs will be updated accordingly.

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The speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour on this road is unreasonable. Many drivers are easily penalized for speeding if they are not careful, and some have even had their licenses suspended, causing public discontent.