Pedestrian Crossings and Driving Quality of Chinese Taxi Drivers

[thewamphyri]

I wondered about the 'right of way' issue for sometime - then was told, by a number of people, that (for Nanjing at least) vehicles (motorbikes, cars, buses etc) always have right of way - pedestrians must give we (this at least explain the impatient horns when the mass of people waiting to cross a road decide just to go, and make the traffic stop for them) - the other side of this 'rule' - is while traffic has full right of way, if they hit anything they are fully at fault (which maybe explains the horns and flashing headlights when a driver feels you will be crossing the road (even if it is not possible for you to get in their way!)).

Not sure all of this is true - but observing traffic leads me to believe everyone feels this is true, and acts accordingly.

As to pedestrian right of way in other countries - in Australia they have full right of way, especially at crossings - generally traffic will wait at crossings, and not doing so is a good way to get your number plate reported to the police.

Troy

[Scandinavian]

Living close to Hong Kong and Macau there is a visible difference in how people drive. Cars with HK/Macau plates stop at pedestrian crossings, cars with Chinese plates don't. It's that simple. Blindly stepping in front of a car with HK/Macau plates is of course a mistake, people are not perfect and a red light does not stop a ton of metal from moving.

I am wondering if the legal system has anything to do with it? In the USA, if you hit a pedestrian while driving, you can get sued for all your money and go to jail as well (depending on the circumstances). People are really afraid of this. Not sure how things work in China though.

I cannot talk for the Americans, but from my own perspective, the reason I slow down when driving past a school or stop at red lights etc is not because I am concerned about going to jail or getting a fine. It's because I do not want to hurt or kill anyone.

When I am behind the wheel myself I will always insist that all passengers use the seat-belts, not because of any fines it might give, but for the safety of everyone. Not because I do not trust my own driving skills but because I know that anyone can make a mistake and hit the car I'm driving.

And another observation about Chinese drivers. This obviously happens everywhere, however on the Chinese streets it is very common to see to cars parked in the middle of the streets with the emergency lights on and people discussing insurance. I see this almost daily, but back home this would be perhaps a couple of times per year.

[jkhsu]

I cannot talk for the Americans, but from my own perspective, the reason I slow down when driving past a school or stop at red lights etc is not because I am concerned about going to jail or getting a fine.

That's also the reason why I would slow down / stop for a pedestrian and I'm pretty sure most American's feel the same way. However, a person's behavior is influenced by the society they live in. I don't believe that a Chinese person born in China does not care about the livelihood of pedestrians by nature. They're molded by the society they live in.

Speaking of seat belts... The last time I was in China, I saw someone use a seat belt alarm eliminator (while driving). I've never seen it before and was surprised that people use this stuff (and apparently not just in China).

http://www.seatbeltalarmstop.com/

[Scandinavian]

Yes, it would be very wrong to blame the individual Chinese person for these things. It would be more right to blame traffic police for not enforcing laws very well.

The seatbelt thing is by the way strange. Its very easy to prove that they save lives, and I would say it is easier to just use it than it is to have to use things like the alarmstop linked in previous post or to have to jam something into the seatbelt retractor. Some bust drivers have a clip at the top of the seatbelt so it doesn't retract, and then it is just hanging in front of them (so it will look to traffic police as if they are using a seatbelt)

Saw some statistics on traffic fatalities in China. If compared to e.g. Germany the number of fatalities are staggering (when remembering to adjust for total population, car owner percentage etc.) Have not been able to find any statistics on just injuries, all the small bumps in city traffic must cause some broken bones and whiplash injuries.

[liuzhou]

You have to remember that something like 95% of all Chinese drivers only learned to drive in the last 3 to 4 years. Some even passed driving tests!

It took decades for seatbelt use to become mandatory in the west (against opposition).

It is utterly pointless comparing China to wherever you happened to be brought up.

And there is no point blaming the traffic cops either. The problem lies way above them.

[renzhe]

Some people have a very bizarre view of traffic regulations in Europe.

If there is a zebra crossing and a green man, the pedestrian has the right of way, always. End of story. Except emergency cars operating a siren, no exceptions. If you're crossing, cars wait. Period. In every country in Europe. In some places, people will break laws more easily, but cutting off a pedestrian on a zebra is like running a red light or driving on the sidewalk or kidnapping the president -- illegal.

The safest I've ever felt was in south Portugal. Here people will jump on the brakes, skidmarks and all, as soon as you're near a crossing. They'd rather crash than risk hitting a pedestrian. Heaven knows what the courts would do to them. You can cross blindly (I do, although it's not smart). I don't know if it's the combination of small town traffic, fines, local culture, laws, or a combination of them all, but it's very comfortable for pedestrians.

However, China is not Europe, and it has its own laws and rules (read through that, it's great fun!) It's not a member of ANY traffic convention, doesn't have to follow ANY international rules, doesn't accept international licenses, doesn't issue international licenses, and it's infamous for bad driving. I'm puzzled that people who have spent significant time in China still expect Swiss conditions.

[Silent]

If there is a zebra crossing and a green man, the pedestrian has the right of way, always. End of story.

I don't think anyone denied this. But having legally the right of way does not mean you will get it. Consequently just crossing because you have a green light is not the smartest thing to do. Though in rural low traffic conditions it may often be fairly safe. Personally I've seen far too many times that it went (almost) wrong to firmly advice against crossing blindly. Of course no-one wants to hurt/kill a pedestrian but people can be in a habit to just push the limit and give a dot of gas to run the yellow light before (or just after) it turns red and a motorist may very well overlook a pedestrian as he's distracted or whatever. Just having a look costs nothing and increases safety a lot. Pushing it a bit further, as I usually tend to do, ignore the traffic light and only see whether it's safe, maybe pushing it a bit too far but avoids useless waiting.

[LondonInvestigator]

Please all rememeber this.

The day your child is not wearing a seatbelt and goes flying through the front windscreen,their face in shreds needing plastic surgery.

Or even simply killed as the windscreen is laminated and impassable.

I saw lots of these type situations in China when I was there,i wonder what the stats are regarding children and car injuries.

it is COMMON sense to wear a seatbelt....

[frankwall]

Absolutely agreed - people used not put it on due to laziness in Europe. Now alot of hard hitting adverts and a real police clampdown has made people think twice. I've been transporting people who refused to wear a seatbelt. I told them to get out and walk.

[liuzhou]

Not specific to taxi drivers or pedestrian crossings but, although this is an oldie, it is still one of the best , no the best, posts I've seen on driving in China. You'll need a VPN or similar.

[Guest realmayo]

Hehe, I happened to be looking for that post a few weeks ago, couldn't find it anywhere ... thanks!

[renzhe]

That. Is. Awesome.

[pprendeville]

was coming back from local Tesco in Finglas on Tuesday morning and i was waiting to cross the road (not at a pedestrian crossing). of course for the last 6 wees I had been conditioned into thinking drivers were the enemise of pedestrians. then all of a sudden i looked at the driver who was beckoning me to cross and smiling. funy how an environment shapes your expectations and how quickly you adapt.