By KHT Staff. AI image for illustration only.
KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung recorded 307 traffic-related deaths in 2025, the highest total in Taiwan for the seventh consecutive year, according to data released by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on March 12.
The figures have renewed concern over road safety in the city, particularly after a series of fatal crashes in the days following the announcement. Local media outlet Jin News (勁報) via LINE, reported that four additional deaths occurred within a single week across Siaogang, Renwu, and Linyuan districts, involving multiple collisions between trucks and motorcycles.
According to the report, incidents included a fatal truck collision at an intersection in Siaogang on March 12, a separate crash in Renwu on March 14, and two deadly tractor-trailer collisions on March 18 in Renwu and Daliao.
Authorities said investigations into the causes of the accidents are ongoing.
Concerns over road design have resurfaced alongside the latest figures. Kaohsiung City Councilor Pai Chiao-yin (白喬茵) cited roadway layouts in northern districts such as Minzu Road (民族路) and Gaonan Highway (高楠公路), where median configurations can force right-turning vehicles into scooter lanes, increasing collision risk.
She argued that the city’s push toward digital transformation should include the use of simulation tools to identify and mitigate high-risk traffic environments, rather than allowing dangerous conditions to persist.
Motorcycle riders remain particularly vulnerable in Kaohsiung, where mixed traffic conditions and heavy vehicle presence contribute to ongoing safety challenges.
The issue has drawn renewed calls for infrastructure redesign and the use of traffic simulation technologies to identify and address high-risk intersections. While Kaohsiung has invested in smart city initiatives and digital systems, critics argue that more targeted action is needed to reduce fatalities.
