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We can't have social harmony without decency on roads
By Lena Zhang |
July 14, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IN Shanghai Daily's July 5 issue, Mr Bensuaski depicted in his article "Shanghai a great city dominated by motorized beasts" the painstaking efforts a pedestrian must make to cross a road.
Coming from a country where pedestrians always get the right of way on a zebra crossing, or even when they occasionally fail to use it, I'm reduced now to another disposable prop on Shanghai's roads.
In the past, walking was indeed a pleasant activity for me and never a blood-pressure raising penance, even in busy downtown. In fact, road crossing would often lead to an exchange of courtesy - drivers stopping for me and me nodding appreciation in return.
Children and seniors fair even better. They could walk at their own leisurely pace without getting the slightest hint of impatience from the drivers, let alone being honked at or crashed into. In school zones the speed limit is always reduced during drop-off and pick-up time as an added measure of safety.
I'm aware of the aggression of Shanghai drivers displayed some time ago, but after years of absence while the city began to play a major role on the international stage, I half expected to see some significant change.
However, what I've experienced can't be further from my expectations. Crossing the roads is still a life-threatening endeavour, regardless of whether it's done at a busy intersection or in a quiet area of town. But not only for pedestrians.
My records show that I'm a pretty competent driver with ages of experience, however, my license is now nothing more than a mere form of identity. People keep telling me how my safe driving practices would stir up a hornet's nest among other motorists on Shanghai's roads.
They've told me half jokingly that if I yield patiently to pedestrians on a crossing I'd better use an earplug to block out the blaring of horns and swear words from those behind me as they try to bypass my car to push into the walking crowds.
If I stop at an amber light, the odds of my car being bumped into would be extremely high because it's the very moment every other driver speeds up to cross. And if I need to change lanes to make a turn on a bustling downtown street, I'd better not use the indicator. Just force my way into a gap big enough for the nose of my car to avoid ending up circling the block for alternative routes because no one would willingly let me in.
Riding in a taxi would be no consolation either. Drivers have invariably made my hair stand on end when they got into lanes of oncoming traffic to overtake vehicles that abided by speed limits.
As if to add to the thrill, the seat belt buckles in the back seat of most taxis are hidden under slip covers, making the ride even more gut-wrenching for passengers. And my head often swelled with the jerky movements of the car when the drivers tried in vain to beat a red light, scare off pedestrians in a crossing, or prevent lane-changing motorists from squeezing into the little gap before them.
I suspect aggressive drivers mainly consist of three types - those who'd normally observe traffic rules but are in a genuine rush to get somewhere at one time or another, taxi drivers who believe speeding will help them serve more customers and earn more, and those who see the roads as a place to either vent their pent-up anger and frustration with life or to throw their weight about.
But traffic safety is no laughing matter. With a lot of aggressive drivers on the roads, especially those in the last category who half look for confrontations, people's fundamental need for safety is tried every day.
Aggressive mentality
I wonder if they realize that simply by having an aggressive mentality behind the wheel they are not only in a position to harm others but also at the risk of jeopardizing their own life, property, and freedom.
Some motorists have put the blame solely on the law makers and enforcement agencies for the lack of traffic order. True, our system is still far from perfect despite the recent introduction of tougher laws on drink driving.
But then again a safer environment can't rely on those entities alone because laws, through their negative stimuli and enforcement, are ultimately only a deterrent. However, the collective work of other segments of the society, including efforts from the media and most importantly, an initiative from within our individual selves, can work miracles. We need to consider how each and every one of us can contribute positively to the order on the roads.
No more shirking our own responsibilities as an individual. No more pointing the finger only at others for the chaos and the degradation of moral standards because the restoration of order is no light work that can be made without many pairs of hands.
At the very least, even lacking any altruistic intentions, we ought to value our own lives, oughtn't we? Otherwise how can we complain that under today's government our citizens' lives are only as precious as reeds, if our own actions are anything but in awe of life?
Therefore, I appeal to all to stay calm and collected and cherish the safety of your own life and the well-being of your family, if not also the life and well-being of your fellow road users.
Many of us are yearning for a society of harmony but how would a harmonious society be even remotely possible if we fail to take any initiatives in something as simple yet pivotal as driving safely?
(The author is a reader of Shanghai Daily who now lives in Shanghai. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.)
Coming from a country where pedestrians always get the right of way on a zebra crossing, or even when they occasionally fail to use it, I'm reduced now to another disposable prop on Shanghai's roads.
In the past, walking was indeed a pleasant activity for me and never a blood-pressure raising penance, even in busy downtown. In fact, road crossing would often lead to an exchange of courtesy - drivers stopping for me and me nodding appreciation in return.
Children and seniors fair even better. They could walk at their own leisurely pace without getting the slightest hint of impatience from the drivers, let alone being honked at or crashed into. In school zones the speed limit is always reduced during drop-off and pick-up time as an added measure of safety.
I'm aware of the aggression of Shanghai drivers displayed some time ago, but after years of absence while the city began to play a major role on the international stage, I half expected to see some significant change.
However, what I've experienced can't be further from my expectations. Crossing the roads is still a life-threatening endeavour, regardless of whether it's done at a busy intersection or in a quiet area of town. But not only for pedestrians.
My records show that I'm a pretty competent driver with ages of experience, however, my license is now nothing more than a mere form of identity. People keep telling me how my safe driving practices would stir up a hornet's nest among other motorists on Shanghai's roads.
They've told me half jokingly that if I yield patiently to pedestrians on a crossing I'd better use an earplug to block out the blaring of horns and swear words from those behind me as they try to bypass my car to push into the walking crowds.
If I stop at an amber light, the odds of my car being bumped into would be extremely high because it's the very moment every other driver speeds up to cross. And if I need to change lanes to make a turn on a bustling downtown street, I'd better not use the indicator. Just force my way into a gap big enough for the nose of my car to avoid ending up circling the block for alternative routes because no one would willingly let me in.
Riding in a taxi would be no consolation either. Drivers have invariably made my hair stand on end when they got into lanes of oncoming traffic to overtake vehicles that abided by speed limits.
As if to add to the thrill, the seat belt buckles in the back seat of most taxis are hidden under slip covers, making the ride even more gut-wrenching for passengers. And my head often swelled with the jerky movements of the car when the drivers tried in vain to beat a red light, scare off pedestrians in a crossing, or prevent lane-changing motorists from squeezing into the little gap before them.
I suspect aggressive drivers mainly consist of three types - those who'd normally observe traffic rules but are in a genuine rush to get somewhere at one time or another, taxi drivers who believe speeding will help them serve more customers and earn more, and those who see the roads as a place to either vent their pent-up anger and frustration with life or to throw their weight about.
But traffic safety is no laughing matter. With a lot of aggressive drivers on the roads, especially those in the last category who half look for confrontations, people's fundamental need for safety is tried every day.
Aggressive mentality
I wonder if they realize that simply by having an aggressive mentality behind the wheel they are not only in a position to harm others but also at the risk of jeopardizing their own life, property, and freedom.
Some motorists have put the blame solely on the law makers and enforcement agencies for the lack of traffic order. True, our system is still far from perfect despite the recent introduction of tougher laws on drink driving.
But then again a safer environment can't rely on those entities alone because laws, through their negative stimuli and enforcement, are ultimately only a deterrent. However, the collective work of other segments of the society, including efforts from the media and most importantly, an initiative from within our individual selves, can work miracles. We need to consider how each and every one of us can contribute positively to the order on the roads.
No more shirking our own responsibilities as an individual. No more pointing the finger only at others for the chaos and the degradation of moral standards because the restoration of order is no light work that can be made without many pairs of hands.
At the very least, even lacking any altruistic intentions, we ought to value our own lives, oughtn't we? Otherwise how can we complain that under today's government our citizens' lives are only as precious as reeds, if our own actions are anything but in awe of life?
Therefore, I appeal to all to stay calm and collected and cherish the safety of your own life and the well-being of your family, if not also the life and well-being of your fellow road users.
Many of us are yearning for a society of harmony but how would a harmonious society be even remotely possible if we fail to take any initiatives in something as simple yet pivotal as driving safely?
(The author is a reader of Shanghai Daily who now lives in Shanghai. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.)
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