When you’re out driving, it’s not just about following the traffic lights or checking your mirrors. Sometimes, simply observing the condition of the vehicles around you can keep you out of trouble.

This morning, while I was making a left turn, a beat-up, dirty car almost slammed into me from behind. The car looked like it hadn’t seen a car wash or a mechanic in years—scratches everywhere, dented panels, and a general air of “I don’t care.” If you see a car like that on the road, keep your distance.

It’s not about judging older cars, but let’s be real—cars that look like they’re falling apart usually have two problems:

1. The driver tends to be reckless—cutting lanes, ignoring signals, or tailgating.
2. The vehicle itself may be poorly maintained—worn-out brakes, sketchy tires, or steering issues.

And that wasn’t even the scariest thing that happened this week.

Just two days ago, a massive construction crane truck was making a turn about 3 meters away from me. Out of nowhere—BANG—the inner tire exploded. The sound was just like a gunshot at a shooting range. It left my ears ringing and even damaged the asphalt road from the shockwave.

At that moment, all I could think was: I need to go make an offering at the temple.

These heavy-duty vehicles, even when operated by pros, are still unpredictable. Their size, weight, and mechanical wear make them high-risk—especially when they’re turning or operating in tight spaces.

Here’s the takeaway: if you see any of these “warning sign” vehicles, stay far away:

• Dirty, dented cars that clearly haven’t been maintained.
• Drivers with erratic behavior—abrupt lane changes, no signals, or constant braking.
• Large trucks, construction vehicles, or anything that looks like it could squash a car.

Driving is already full of surprises. But with a little more awareness and space, you might avoid a crash—or at least a major scare.

Stay safe out there. And hopefully, after this streak of close calls, my luck turns around soon.

日常開車上路，除了留心號誌與路況之外，有時候觀察周圍的車輛狀況，也可能救你一命。

今天早上，我在一個路口準備左轉，後方一輛「切西瓜」式亂鑽的小破車差點撞上我。那台車不但外觀髒兮兮，車身明顯有刮傷、板金凹陷，感覺幾百年沒保養過。這種車，千萬要離它遠一點！

這不是歧視車齡或老車，而是因為這類車輛通常存在兩種問題：

1. 駕駛人風險意識低，常見亂切、硬闖行為。
2. 車況不佳，煞車、轉向、輪胎等都可能不穩定。

而這幾天的另一次經歷，更讓我決定寫下這篇文章。

就在前天，一台大型工程吊車從我身旁不到三公尺的距離轉彎，突然「砰」地一聲——內側輪胎爆胎！那聲音跟打靶時的槍聲一樣震耳欲聾，耳朵瞬間幾乎耳鳴。現場還能看到柏油路面被衝擊波震裂。

我當時只有一個念頭：該去拜拜了。

這類大型工程車，雖然多數由專業司機操作，但因為車身重、轉彎半徑大，加上有時車況不理想（像這次的爆胎），對周圍車輛和行人來說，都是高風險因素。

總結一下，如果你在路上看到這些「警訊車」，請自保，離遠一點：

• 外觀殘破、灰頭土臉，看起來沒什麼在保養的車。
• 行車行為詭異、猛然加速減速、不打方向燈就變換車道的車。
• 大型工程車、貨車，尤其在狹窄道路或轉彎處。

開車本來就充滿不可預測的風險，但多一點觀察，多一點警覺，也許就能少一次擦撞或驚嚇。

祝大家平安，也祝我最近一連串驚魂過後，能轉個運。

In many areas across Taiwan, sidewalks and roadside spaces are frequently occupied by potted plants, traffic cones, and other private items placed by ground-floor residents. This leads to the privatization of public spaces. Although such behavior disrupts both urban aesthetics and pedestrian access, local governments have long neglected the issue, allowing it to become a normalized part of the everyday streetscape.

Compared to Japan’s clean and orderly urban scenery, Taiwan’s streets often appear cluttered due to unauthorized placement of items by residents. These private occupations not only obstruct movement but also significantly degrade the visual quality of the city. The longstanding inaction by local governments has turned public spaces—meant to be shared by all—into fragmented and disorderly “private territories,” sharply contrasting with Japan’s well-managed streetscapes that serve as assets to tourism.

To address this issue, citizens have submitted proposals through the government’s public policy participation platform, urging local authorities to take action and restore public space to the community.

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由財經M平方提供，針對 4/2 Trump 關稅政策的報告：cdn.macromicro.me/misc/202504/川普關稅衝擊完整解讀＿財經Ｍ平方_20250407.pdf

​President Donald Trump’s recent implementation of comprehensive tariffs on all foreign imports has significantly impacted both the U.S. and global economies. These measures have led to increased production costs, consumer prices, and have raised concerns about potential recession risks.​

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