TAIWAN: Traffic radio station can't meet target

Radio station under National Police Administration asks government agencies to help its shortage of manpower

Taipei Times
Monday, June 29, 2009

By Shelley Huang

Responding to reports that only about 20 percent of calls to a ­government-run traffic information radio station get answered, the station yesterday vowed to improve the system and ask for government help.

The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) reported yesterday that after trying unsuccessfully for 10 minutes to reach the Police Radio Station (PRS) by phone, Minister of the Interior Liao Liou-yi reprimanded PRS director-general Shen Pao-yang, telling him to write a report on how to resolve the problem.

The story said Liao often listened to the station's traffic reports and called in to point out mistakes.

He has also required that the station answer at least 60 percent of all calls.

The station said that under government policies to cut back on human resources, it currently only had 178 employees for the main station and eight local branches. As a result, only 18 percent of calls get answered, causing delays in providing information to motorists.

The station said it had asked for assistance from its supervising government agencies to help resolve the shortage of manpower.

PRS is a public media group under the National Police Administration.

It provides the 0800-000-123 toll-free line for reports on traffic, road conditions and accidents.

It also provides motorists with on-the-road service and helps people retrieve personal belongings left behind in cabs.

Date Posted: 6/29/2009