A Chinese female motorcyclist from Suzhou, known as “Shigao ProMax” (@石膏ProMax) on Douyin, tragically passed away this week following a motorcycle crash in Suzhou’s Wujiang District.

The incident occurred in the late afternoon of September 29, when the 19-year-old Shigao, whose real name was Yang Huizi (杨惠子), was a passenger on the motorcycle, with her (male) friend driving the vehicle.

As the motorcycle collided with a car emerging from a side intersection, Yang was thrown off the back, propelled several meters through the air before landing on the road. Although she was reportedly wearing a helmet, it cracked during the crash, and she sustained a severe head injury.

A video circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the accident, with the motorcycle driver lying on the road and Yang Huizi a few meters away, initially attempting to crawl before collapsing (warning for graphic content). Despite rescue efforts, she later died in the hospital. The current condition of Yang’s friend, the rider, remains unclear.

Screenshot of the scene of the accident.

Yang had nearly 80,000 fans on Douyin, where she posted her first video in December 2019. By September 2024, she had shared a total of 1,298 videos.

On Weibo, many commenters voiced concern over how the news was headlined, criticizing the emphasis on her gender in the hashtag. The hashtag “Famous Female Rider Shi Gao Dies in Traffic Accident” (#网红女骑士石膏发生车祸身亡#) garnered over 170 million views on Weibo on Tuesday. Many commenters felt the headline made it seem as if the young woman had crashed the motor herself, while she was merely a passenger.

Others, however, see this trending news as an opportunity to highlight the risky behavior of motorcyclists, who not only endanger their own lives by speeding but also jeopardize the safety of others by showing off in traffic and driving recklessly.

Especially female influencers/motorcyclists are criticized for careless driving while flaunting their looks for social media posts.

(See example video here)

Over the past years, the death of multiple motorcycle influencers have made Chinese headlines. In 2022, a popular Douyin influencer and motorcyclist known as “Xiaoyu Loves Eating Fish” (@小鱼爱吃鱼) died in a collision after riding in the wrong lane. She was instantly killed on the spot. Xiaoyu had gained attention for her risky driving behavior, often wearing short skirts, tight leggings, or other revealing outfits instead of proper motorcycle gear.

“Xiaoyu Loves Eating Fish,” images via Tencent News

In 2023, two young girls—one 16 and the other 21—tragically lost their lives after their motorcycle crashed into a pillar. They were speeding and, apart from wearing helmets, were dressed in skirts and stockings with no additional protective gear. Both died instantly. The 16-year-old, known as An’an (安安), was a social media influencer. Her followers had previously warned her about her reckless behavior. She rode a motorcycle without a license.

An’an’s social media profile.

Within one year alone, from October 2022 to September 2023, at least seven motorcycle influencers made headlines in China after losing their lives in traffic accidents. Some bloggers blame the intense competition for online attention for these accidents, as influencers pull dangerous stunts and push the boundaries to gain more likes and followers.

Posting a video of a woman posing for a video while riding a motorcycle, the popular Weibo content creator HuangXiPao (@黄西炮) wrote: “So many female motorcycle influencers have died, yet it doesn’t stop others from still posing on the road for photos! Is this trend really that profitable?”

(See video here)

One commenter expresses frustration over how news about motorcycle influencers consistently reaches the top trending lists, while other serious incidents, such as the big stabbing incident that happened in Shanghai this week, seem to be kept off the hot lists. “Every time a female motorcycle influencer dies, it makes the trending lists. Meanwhile, three people are dead and 18 injured in Shanghai! Yet you’ve completely suppressed the search term (…) What is this about?!”

News about the motorcycle incident is also a reason for official channels to remind netizens about road safety. The official China Police account shared photos of the incident, stating: “Raise safety awareness and take responsibility for your life.”

Also read: What Went Wrong in Suzhou Acrobatic Show? Fatal High-Altitude Fall Triggers Discussions on Safety Measures

By Manya Koetse
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Whatever possessed the female driver of a Land Rover to go against traffic, cut in line, and assault another driver?

A recent incident in Qingdao, Shandong, has gone viral on Weibo and other Chinese social media platforms. Various videos show a female driver in a Land Rover driving in the wrong direction on a congested road, nearly colliding with another vehicle (see full video here).

The woman drove a white Range Rover with a Chanel logo on the side of the car.

When the other driver refused to yield, the woman—wearing a face mask and summer hat—got out of her car and began verbally abusing and physically attacking him in front of his two children, who were in the backseat.

She initially stood in the middle of the street, screaming and arguing with traffic officers. After scolding the other driver, she approached his car, opened the door, and slapped him. Later, she walked around to the driver’s side, reached through the window, and struck him in the face.

The incident occurred on August 28th, with bystander videos quickly spreading across the internet. After slapping the man once, the woman continued screaming and struck him in the face six more times. She also kicked his car before taking off.

The other driver, bleeding from the face, tried to prevent her from leaving the scene, but she drove away anyway.

On August 29th, local authorities issued a statement about the incident. The woman, now known as “Land Rover Woman” (路虎女), is a 38-year-old resident of Laoshan District by the name of Wang. She was clearly in the wrong—driving against traffic and reacting violently when confronted. She has since been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention and fined 1,000 yuan ($140) for her actions.

Many commenters, however, think the punishment is too light.

On August 30th, the injured driver, Mr. Lin (林先生), told reporters that he is a veteran. He did not fight back during the assault, because, as a former soldier and with children present, he felt it was more important to maintain his composure. He also mentioned that the incident has left him feeling unwell and that Wang has yet to apologize or compensate him for his medical expenses (#被逆行路虎女司机打伤男司机发声#).

Mr. Lin reportedly will not let the matter rest or accept a settlement. Not only is he feeling unwell, but he has also had to temporarily close the guest house he runs. He plans to pursue legal action against the woman.

On Chinese social media, Lin is receiving widespread support from people who not only condemn the female driver for her aggressive behavior but also criticize her for being “arrogant and despotic.” Many believe she comes from an affluent background and assume she can act this way due to her perceived privilege. They also praise Lin for staying calm and not stooping to her level, even when she hit him so hard that his nose bled. “That’s a real man (真汉子),” some wrote.

By now, some netizens have spotted the Land Rover with its Chanel logo parked on the side of the street. As people began livestreaming the car and its location, a man appeared and quickly drove the car away. On August 31st, a hashtag featuring the Land Rover’s license plate (#鲁BQP800#) had received over 120 million views. Although the ‘Land Rover Woman’ nickname is bound to stick with her, it might be a good time for the woman to get rid of her car.

Also read: Landrover Woman Controversy Explained

By Manya Koetse
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