Taiwan's Freeway Bureau Announces Recommended Travel Times for Labor Day Long Weekend

The Freeway Bureau (高公局) announced on April 14 its traffic predictions and recommended travel schedules for the three-day Labor Day long weekend from May 1 to May 3. This year marks the first time Labor Day is observed as a national holiday in Taiwan. The bureau forecasts a total traffic volume of 107 to 115 million vehicle kilometers (mvk) during the holiday period. Specifically, southbound traffic on May 1 is expected to reach 62 mvk, which is 1.3 times the typical weekday volume. The peak congestion periods are anticipated to be southbound on the first two days (May 1 and 2) and northbound on the last two days (May 2 and 3). To mitigate congestion, the Freeway Bureau advises travelers on May 1 and 2 to depart before 6 AM or after 12 PM for western national highways heading south, and before 5 AM or after 5 PM for National Highway 5 heading south. For northbound travel on May 2 and 3, it is recommended to depart before 9 AM for western national highways in the southern region, before 12 PM for the central region, and before 9 AM for National Highway 5. Additional traffic management measures include a single toll rate across all national highways, a 20% discount on tolls for the National Highway 3 section between Hsinchu System and Yanchao System, and a suspension of toll collection daily from 0 AM to 5 AM. The bureau also urged drivers to use public transportation, drive patiently, avoid illegal lane changes or shoulder use, and refrain from fatigued driving. It specifically warned against over-reliance on assisted driving systems when entering or exiting interchanges, service areas, or rest stops.