Deadly "Kaohsiung-style left turn" kills motorcycle rider in Kaohsiung

Aug 21, 2026

A 43-year-old woman on a scooter died in Kaohsiung after cutting left against traffic from a stopped lane, a dangerous local habit that keeps killing riders.

  • She was waiting at a red light on Jiangong Road when she suddenly swerved left toward Dashun Road, crossing into oncoming traffic.
  • An SUV driven by a 75-year-old man, traveling straight in the inside lane and also turning left, hit her; she died after being taken to hospital.
  • The driver tested clean for alcohol, and police initially blame the rider for the illegal turn.
  • The "Kaohsiung-style left turn" — cutting straight across from a waiting area instead of using the proper turn lane — is a well-known local practice that police treat as a traffic violation.
  • The driver has still been referred to prosecutors on a negligent homicide charge while investigators check whether he failed to take proper care.

Outlook: Traffic police will pull dashcam footage from nearby vehicles to settle fault, and prosecutors will decide whether the driver faces charges.

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