Taichung drug-driving incidents surge 386%, audit office urges police to step up crackdown

Taichung City is facing a dramatic increase in casualties from drug-impaired driving, with incidents surging by 386.67% over the last two years. The city's audit office has urged the police to strengthen enforcement measures to address the escalating road safety concerns.

According to the audit report, Taichung police apprehended 1095 cases of drug-impaired driving in 2025, a substantial jump from the 225 cases recorded in 2024. The trend continued into 2026, with 21 people injured or killed in such incidents by the end of April, compared to 8 during the same period in the previous year. The audit office highlighted the urgent need for the police bureau to enhance its crackdown on drug-impaired drivers and develop effective countermeasures.

“

Taichung City's drug-driving casualties are increasing, and we demand that the police strengthen enforcement.

In response, the Taichung City Police Bureau stated its commitment to a "zero tolerance" policy for drug-impaired driving. Since November 2025, the bureau has adopted rapid saliva testing kits to improve the accuracy and efficiency of its enforcement, enabling "real-time testing and immediate arrest." The police are also analyzing high-risk times and locations for drug-impaired driving, planning at least five specialized operations per month to increase enforcement frequency.

Furthermore, the city government has initiated a cross-agency collaboration with the Taichung District Prosecutors Office and District Court to establish "eight major preventive detention requirements for drug-impaired driving" to increase the rate of preventive detention. This is combined with publicizing lists of repeat offenders and conducting age- and group-specific awareness campaigns. The police aim to maintain road safety through a multi-pronged approach involving both enforcement and public education.

“

We will continue to implement the 'zero tolerance' policy for drug-driving, comprehensively adopting rapid saliva testing kits since November 2025 to improve law enforcement accuracy and achieve strong actions of 'real-time testing and immediate arrest'.