Health rewards program’s lessons

The Ministry of Sports has launched its “sweat rewards” program, in which participants who meet any of the weekly requirements — exercising for at least 30 minutes in a single session, accumulating at least 8,000 steps a day, walking or running at least 5km in a single session or cycling at least 15km — could receive a NT$50 voucher each week. The program runs for 14 weeks.

I had assumed that few people would participate in the program. To my surprise, many of my colleagues began sharing information about it in our group chat. By Sunday last week, everyone had uploaded records showing that they had walked 8,000 steps during the first week.

Just days ago, I used my voucher at a convenience store and uploaded my exercise record for the second week. Over the next 12 weeks, my colleagues and I plan to continue encouraging each other to persevere, with the goal of developing regular exercise habits and maintaining our health.

I believe that the sports ministry’s exercise incentive program has been quite successful so far. After all, getting people to actually exercise and develop regular workout habits is by far more effective than simply repeating slogans or releasing promotional materials.

By comparison, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ new “zero traffic infringements” prize draw for motorcycle riders places greater emphasis on publicity, with evidently weaker substantive results. Under the transportation ministry’s lottery — launched in honor of Traffic Safety Month — those who own a motorcycle with a valid license plate are eligible to enter as long as they have no record of traffic law infringements or accidents while on the road.

Although there are 800 prizes, including a grand prize of a large heavy-duty motorcycle worth about NT$280,000, the odds of winning are low. That could discourage public participation, making the campaign a mere formality in which publicity outweighs any actual impact.

The transportation ministry should follow the sports ministry’s example: launch a program to encourage the public to obey traffic rules and keep it running for one to two years or even longer. Motorcycle riders could register once every quarter, with those who meet eligibility requirements receiving bonus vouchers. Alternatively, the transportation ministry could adopt a system similar to the invoice lottery, with a drawing every two months.

A campaign built around the principle that everyone who obeys traffic laws is a winner would give people a tangible incentive to participate and make the program more meaningful.

Chen Hung-hui is a military instructor and university life resources officer.