Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A7

December 21, 2015

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Opinion » Chinese Views

Foreigners sound off on Shanghai’s traffic

Source: Shanghai Daily | December 21, 2015, Monday | Print Edition

POLICE should act

Dear Ni Tao,

Thank you for your article on Shanghai driving (“No easy cures for Shanghai traffic pains, but more empathy among drivers couldn’t hurt,” December 14, Shanghai Daily). I enjoyed it very much.

I am a Shanghai resident since March 2015 and transport in Shanghai means for me walking, bicycling, and taking subways, buses or taxis. I have been driving cars for the last 40 years in different parts of the world. Driving a car in Shanghai is a challenge I have not (yet) picked up. Mainly because if anything happens I will have a large language problem. (In Japan, the police have an English-speaking department to help you).

By the way, the guards at your office building stop pedestrians to allow cars to pass first! In general, cars do not stop when coming out of buildings, parking spaces, etc. Of course they do not stop for pedestrians at road crossings at all. They even honk if they do think you are too slow.

The traffic chaos is a problem for everyone in Shanghai.

There is a possibility to teach good behavior to taxi and bus drivers, and that would be very welcome. But I am afraid only strong action from police and traffic wardens will help to get discipline into the system.

Daan Snaathorst

Total lack of etiquette

Dear Ni Tao,

I read your article on traffic with interest, but with little hope that it will alter the way of driving in Shanghai.

I am an English visitor to Shanghai. This is my fourth visit. From my observation there is little or no public spirit to be found almost anywhere here be it on the roads, pavements or many of the stores. It would seem wherever you go the majority of Chinese citizens are out for themselves and there is little or no consideration for others’ needs whatsoever.

It would seem the horn is as essential a part to driving as the steering wheel.

I am trying to teach my two-year-old grandson road sense, but it is a waste of time over here.

I frequently have to demand that vehicles stop to allow me safe passage with my grandson either in the pushchair or walking (safely on a harness with reins).

I sometimes resort to a thump with my hand on offending vehicles. By the way, DRIVERS PLEASE BEWARE: I have asked Father Christmas for a set of good sharp knuckle dusters so I am able to leave a more lasting reminder to those with total disregard for the safety of pedestrians legitimately crossing roads. And no, I’m not bothered whether it’s a Lamborghini or anything else!

Gail Boizot

Why I do not drive here

Dear Ni Tao,

Your traffic article in last Monday’s edition of Shanghai Daily was spot on. I am from the UK but have lived in Shanghai for many years. I have over 40 years of driving experience but nothing would induce me to drive in Shanghai. I still find it hard to accept how little courtesy pedestrians are afforded. I can probably count on one hand the number of times a driver has politely given way and allowed me to cross a road. That is something that would be quite normal in UK, especially when the weather is bad and the driver is cocooned in his car.

In England, children are taught road safety from an early age and looking both ways before crossing a road becomes second nature. This instinct has saved me from a collision and injury on a number of occasions, almost always involving a cyclist or motor cyclist riding on the “wrong” side of the road. It is also quite scary when motor cyclists use the sidewalk as an extra “lane” and make no concessions with their speed.

Nigel Upstone

PS I have just recalled something else that always astonishes me and that is the total failure of road users to make way for emergency vehicles that are clearly attending to some kind of emergency.

Vehicles would always pull over to the side of the road in the UK to allow a fire vehicle, ambulance or police car a clear passage.

Chinese Views


 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend