Taiwan, which is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean and encompasses an area of 36,000
square km, has a population of around 22 million people. Motorcycles are one of the most
common modes of transportation in Taiwan because, relative to cars, they are much less
expensive, use less oil, are easy to park, and, more importantly, are less affected by traffic
congestion. A population-based survey in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, found that 47% of
the population over fifteen years of age regularly ride a motorcycle [Department of Health,
1987].