BMW with dual plates caught in Central turn mishap
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A video shared online on 23 October captured a black BMW with cross-boundary licence plates apparently making an illegal left turn from Pedder Street into Des Voeux Road Central outside the Louis Vuitton flagship store at Landmark in Central. The driver then appeared to realise the mistake at the pedestrian crossing and tried to reverse back toward Pedder Street while people were crossing on a green signal. Two foreign women stopped walking to avoid being hit, while nearby traffic including a bus and a tram added to the congestion and prompted horn-blowing from other road users. The clip triggered online criticism, with some viewers urging the public to report the incident and others questioning whether the driving could amount to careless or dangerous driving.
Key Points
- The incident happened at the junction of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road Central, opposite the Louis Vuitton “trunk wall” flagship facade at Landmark in Central.
- According to the footage, the black BMW with dual plates turned into the tram-track area after apparently making a prohibited left turn from Pedder Street.
- Pedestrians were crossing on a green light when the car reversed, and two foreign women paused mid-crossing to avoid a possible collision.
- As the driver tried to back out, a bus, a tram and other vehicles approached, horns sounded repeatedly, and one tram had to stop.
- Hong Kong law requires drivers to obey traffic signs and road markings; cited penalties can reach HK$5,000 and three months’ jail for a first conviction
Why It Matters
At one of Central’s busiest junctions, even a brief wrong turn can quickly disrupt pedestrians, trams and road traffic at the same time. The case also draws attention to the legal risks around ignoring traffic signs and reversing near crossings, where Transport Department guidance says drivers must ensure no pedestrians are behind the vehicle and must give way to others.