Driving habits and city traffic in China - any improvement?

[lokki]

I just got back from a trip to various parts of China and thought I could actually detect a change in what it was like moving about in the city traffic now, by car and on foot, compared to my first visit in 2005.

It was still pretty hairy at times, but most of the time it felt a little less crazy than four years ago. Has anybody else noticed a trend towards more "civilized" driving habits or is this just my imagination?

[Xiao Kui]

Here in Kunming it's getting worse, not better, so it's definitely not a nationwide trend.

[jobin]

Right you are, lokki! It's your imagination at work. 'Undisciplined' driving, cycling and walking is the best description.

[liuzhou]

I've been here 13 years and it definitely getting worse. Thousands, no millions, of new drivers hitting the streets barely able to control their vehicles. Millions of e-bike idiots who are not even required to have any training or licences.

Then there are the truly idiotic.

[anonymoose]

The first time you came, it was a shock to you.

The last time you came, you were already psychologically prepared, so it didn't seem as bad comparatively.

I haven't noticed any improvement over the years I've been here. People are just as selfish and undisciplined as they've always been, except now there are more of them.

[wushijiao]

I lived in the Mainland from 2001-2007, and in Shanghai from 2004-2007. I’d say it’s really hard to tell whether or not there’s been progress, since for every massive public education campaign there’s a whole new batch of newbies hitting the roads (like liuzhou said). Also, since China is undergoing one of the most massive urbanization movements in human history, a lot of “new urbanites” are moving to the cities, and many of them have relatively little formal knowledge of traffic rules, since many villages have no stop lights, traffic lanes or traffic cops. So, it might be said, that at least initially, they are not as accustomed to traffic systems based on strictly observed rules.

I did feel that Shanghai was getting somewhat safer. There was a time (around 2005) when I could honestly say that I’d never seen a traffic cop pull over a driver. But towards the end of 2006-7, this seemed to be a fairly commonplace sight. Also, Shanghai has traffic wardens on most major intersections, and to the best of their abilities, they try to control pedestrians and bikers, and generally speaking, they do a pretty good job. Undoubtedly, they bring order to the city and save countless lives per year.

So at least in Shanghai, I’d say there was some improvement.

[zerolife]

I've been in Beijing in 2006 and then in Summer 2008 ... didn't see any improvement except all new cabs and buses.

I'm always amazed by the driving skill of some oldies there (not that they follow the rules but for not hitting anything on the crazy street). However, as others said there are also an even bigger group of newbies who don't follow the rules but aren't experienced enough, and as a result are driving a lot more dangerous than the oldies.

[flameproof]

It's not getting better, you are just getting used to it.

When I first came to China my heartbeat was constantly over 200 when in a car. But now the weirdest driver stunts hardly raise an eyebrow and I stopped asking "why?" long long time ago.