A 59-year-old man riding an electric wheelchair in Kaohsiung was hit by a scooter after turning left without warning, a reminder that these mobility devices are treated as pedestrians under Taiwanese law.

• The crash happened on a main road in Kaohsiung's Zuoying district on the evening of the 20th, leaving the rider with scrapes and bruises but no serious injury.
• The wheelchair drifted left at an intersection and a 22-year-old scooter rider behind him could not stop in time.
• Police say medical mobility scooters count as walking aids, not vehicles, so riders must use sidewalks or crosswalks and stay to the side of the road where there is no sidewalk.
• Breaking that rule carries a fine of NT$500, and the scooter rider is also being checked for failing to watch the road ahead and keep a safe gap.

Outlook: Traffic police will analyze who was at fault, and both sides could face penalties.