The move follows repeated complaints about congestion at the airport during what officials have described as “extreme peak” hours. Passenger flow is especially heavy between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., when more than 2,000 travelers can enter the departure area within a two-hour window.

Police said Kaohsiung recorded 739 drug-impaired driving cases from January through May, an increase of 299 cases from the same period last year.

Unsurprisingly to many who drive to Kenting and back frequently, news reports confirmed that many of the fixed poles along the route were not functional, but decoys used to deter speeding. In fact, across Pingtung County’s roughly 1,500 kilometers of roads, fewer than 40 fixed camera poles have, or had, functional radar units. Traffic police said removing “unreasonable” camera locations has helped cut fixed-camera speeding citations by more than 60 percent in 2025, from more than 100,000 violations to about 40,000 cases. Some might say fewer cameras obviously means fewer citations. Police said the more important measure is that traffic accidents along the same stretch have also decreased.

The city says the plan includes not only shortening the duration of red lights at individual intersections, but also utilizing smart traffic control systems that will adjust entire road corridors to reduce waiting times while maintaining coordinated traffic flow on major roads.

By KHT Staff. AI illustration image. KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung City Government said traffic safety indicators have continued to improve, with the number…

Running through the end of December 2026, the initiative is scheduled to provide an estimated 490 free sessions during work breaks and between shifts to combat the physical stress and shoulder injuries associated with long driving hours. Municipal authorities stated the project serves a dual purpose by improving driver concentration as a measure of preventive safety while simultaneously creating stable employment opportunities for visually impaired professionals.

Drivers pressed for a fare review, arguing that Kaohsiung’s delayed-time meter remains out of step with other cities. According to Kaohsiung’s official taxi fare table, the meter adds NT$5 every 100 seconds when the speed falls below 5 kilometers per hour. TVBS noted that Taipei uses NT$5 every 60 seconds, and that Kaohsiung drivers say the gap matters more now that concerts, tourism and congestion often make trips slower and more labor-intensive.

Under Taiwan’s Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, drivers can be fined for holding, lighting, or smoking a cigarette while on the road if the behavior affects traffic safety. The rule has been in effect since at least July 1, 2019, and the fine was subsequently increased from NT$600 to NT$1,200 following a legislative amendment in late 2025.

The city said additional pedestrian-environment improvement projects are also underway nearby on Jiouru 1st Road (九如一路) in Sanmin District (三民區) and Wumiao Road (武廟路) in Lingya District.

Chen says the city should study the possibility of reconnecting the old rail bridges on both the north and south sides of the area. Chen said the Public Works Bureau’s Parks Office had been asked to evaluate the engineering requirements and cost of such a project.