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Canadian driver shocked by lack of rules, respect and road education
By Yang Guang |
December 8, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
I'M a professional driver from Canada, with 41 years' driving as bus driver and certified driving instructor.
In Canada it is a privilege to drive a car or truck. We have road rules in Canada.
The pedestrian has the right of way, all motor vehicles will stop if the driver encounters a person walking around a intersection.
But, in Canada it is a traffic violation if a person wantonly walks across the middle of the road, stopping the traffic.
After studying the Shanghai traffic for three months, I see the city has a lack of street signs (no yield signs no crossing signs, no speed limit signs.) The stop lights are not properly sequenced, there's are not enough advance green lights for cars turning left.
I find Shanghai drivers (of cars, motorcycles and electric bikes) just do what they want. There is no respect and they don't care if they kill someone.
I have seen many stupid things here in three months - too many to mention.
I feel this is because Shanghai drivers are not educated enough to drive a car or truck and a motor bike.
If fact, after looking at the drivers' test here, I think I have seen the real reason - there are so many drivers in Shanghai. A 15-year-Canadian kid, who has never driven a car could pass this test.
I think Shanghai has an even bigger problem with the onslaught of new cars coming on the road.
It would be a good idea for the Shanghai government to upgrade the driving test, educate the public more and increase the fines for traffic violations.
I think and really believe that Shanghai was not built to accommodate the cars or trucks. That being said, I think the government has to build a safe structure to separate the cars from the pedestrians.
This city is a very unsafe city to even walk in. I know that I will not drive here.
In Canada it is a privilege to drive a car or truck. We have road rules in Canada.
The pedestrian has the right of way, all motor vehicles will stop if the driver encounters a person walking around a intersection.
But, in Canada it is a traffic violation if a person wantonly walks across the middle of the road, stopping the traffic.
After studying the Shanghai traffic for three months, I see the city has a lack of street signs (no yield signs no crossing signs, no speed limit signs.) The stop lights are not properly sequenced, there's are not enough advance green lights for cars turning left.
I find Shanghai drivers (of cars, motorcycles and electric bikes) just do what they want. There is no respect and they don't care if they kill someone.
I have seen many stupid things here in three months - too many to mention.
I feel this is because Shanghai drivers are not educated enough to drive a car or truck and a motor bike.
If fact, after looking at the drivers' test here, I think I have seen the real reason - there are so many drivers in Shanghai. A 15-year-Canadian kid, who has never driven a car could pass this test.
I think Shanghai has an even bigger problem with the onslaught of new cars coming on the road.
It would be a good idea for the Shanghai government to upgrade the driving test, educate the public more and increase the fines for traffic violations.
I think and really believe that Shanghai was not built to accommodate the cars or trucks. That being said, I think the government has to build a safe structure to separate the cars from the pedestrians.
This city is a very unsafe city to even walk in. I know that I will not drive here.
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