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How much do you know about PRC Chinese drivers?
May 19th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
I am appalled to learn from TR Emeritus readers that PRC Chinese in Singapore with valid China driving license only has to take a theory test before they can drive legally on the roads.
It has also come to my understanding that Gerard Ee, chairman of the Public Transport Council, has rejected the suggestion of laying down restrictions on high-performance cars on the road and thinks that the onus should be on drivers to be responsible. I believe many Singaporeans would agree with Gerard Ee statement here, but let me tell you honestly that this is an erroneous assumption that will lead to more deaths on the roads in Singapore.
I can understand why Gerard or any Singaporeans think that way since you don’t live here in China like I do. You would assume it as individual responsibility for this unfortunate accident, but I tell you here honestly, it is not individual responsibility that matters. It is also erroneous to put it that PRC Chinese in Singapore are not used to right hand drive on Singapore roads. You are dealing with PRC Chinese drivers and you have to understand the entire situation in China.
It took me 14 years in China to study and observe PRC Chinese behavior, and without prejudice against them, dangerous driving in China is a way of life. Dangerous driving on roads in China is acceptable and practiced daily by almost every Chinese driver here. Dangerous and irresponsible driving in China is simply as natural as going to the grocery store to pick your weekly necessities and there is nothing to be ashamed here in China. If you don’t drive dangerously or irresponsibly, you are probably not a PRC Chinese. It is so easy to spot cars dashing across red lights in China, driving against traffic, driving on pedestrian pavement, park your car in the opposite direction, stop your car in the expressway without turning on the hazard lights, make phone calls while driving or stop your car by the side and pee on the road, Just to name a few examples.
Nobody here or drivers here in China would ever scorn at you for performing all these acts that are clearly against the traffic laws. There are no moral or social obligations among Chinese PRC drivers that cut your queue or honk at you to move while the traffic light is red. Chinese drivers are unashamed of their actions even if they flout traffic rules. If they are caught by the traffic police and be given a ticket, most PRC Chinese would regard that as mere unfortunate individual incident and not something to be ashamed. For most PRC Chinese drivers, to be awarded traffic ticket is like losing a bit of money in casino, plain unlucky and no remorse in their actions. In other words, yes, PRC Chinese have no moral or social obligations, disregard for law and order is acceptable in the Chinese society.
Most PRC Chinese drivers would like to think within the perimeters of their understanding. Why do you need to obey the traffic lights if there are no traffic cameras, no traffic police, no pedestrians and no cars at the junction? Here’s an analogy. If you stop at the red light where these conditions are presented, you are probably a moron to most PRC Chinese drivers, and they will just cut in front of you and drive across the junction.
Please bear in mind that the term “lawful society” materialized after 1984 when Chairman Deng Xiaoping established the police force with 110 police hotline at Guangzhou city. For most PRC Chinese, driving and road safety is very new to them since they used to ride bicycles back in mid 90s or less than 17 years ago. China has developed too quickly economically to put enough thoughts on road safety, cultivate a sense of social responsibilities or catch up with the traffic system of developed countries. The speed of economic development in China is faster than the development of moral and social values in China and hence an unequal balance in the Chinese society.
Many Singapore netizens have questioned the moral obligations of the Ma family to send representatives to Mr Cheng and Ms Ito’s wake. The Ma family members should at least offer their apologies and condolences but that was never done. I am not surprised at all by such uncompassionate and selfish behavior of the Ma’s family after living in China for 14 years. For all you may not know, Ma Chi’s family members may even regard his death as mere unfortunate accident caused by the taxi driver, and not as a result of his irresponsible actions. In extreme case, they may even twist the logic that the taxi driver should also look out for Ma Chi’s car, and then you will find yourself speaking and reasoning with someone from another planet. My wife and I in China like to joke and regard this form of unreasonable and distorted Chinese thinking as “Tsinghua’s logic”.
So, fellow Singaporeans who don’t live in China may wish to ask me some simple questions. How exactly unsafe are PRC Chinese drivers? What are the levels of safety consciousness among PRC Chinese drivers? What is their level of driving skills?
I live in Chengdu and Shanghai, and in both cities, I drive to work. In Chengdu city, I honk at cars on daily basis. Why? Most Singaporeans would assume that it is impolite to honk at someone else, but in China I honk at car frequently to avoid accident. Most of the PRC Chinese drivers would switch lanes without looking at their side mirror and I can sense it before these drivers attempt to switch their lanes. Most Chinese drivers wouldn’t bother to look at blind spot before they switch lanes. Most drivers in China have very poor judgment skills at switching lanes.
Interestingly, the question of checking blind spot prior to switching lanes is not found in China driving theory test questions. I’m not kidding with you. Most drivers I notice here don’t turn on their hazard lights when they stop their cars on expressway. Of course, it is not advisable to stop your cars on the expressway but some of these PRC Chinese drivers simply want to relieve themselves at the side of the road. On the expressway in China, you will find sedan cars traveling at 50km/h on the fast lane. You can also easily find trucks and bus that road hog the fast lane. All car lanes on the expressway in China are the same, and you will find cars and buses that overtake each other on the expressway. It is an unimaginable traffic mess here in China.
In the rush hours in China, smaller driving lanes are usually clogged up with cars to standstill because no cars on the roads are willing to give way or obey the traffic rules. I observe cars from turning filter lanes don’t give way to cars from the main road. The whole traffic system can become so chaotic and these cars move inch by inch. Interestingly, the question of cars from filter lanes should give way to cars from the main road is not found on China driving theory test questions.
Most Chinese drivers don’t put on seat belts when they drive because they are not comfortable with the strap. I even have a Shanghai friend who told me that the safety strap is affecting his breathing while he drives. I explained him that the safety belt is as natural as putting on the underwear. After all, for most men, your crotch can sometimes be caught in between the linings of your underwear and you may need to make some simple adjustments.
Most PRC fathers in China don’t put their kids on the child safety seats. The safety awareness level is so low that when I brought my car for car wash in China, the car wash guy said that I am definitely a foreigner although I try to lie to him I am not. The car wash guy told me that my car has a child safety seat and that only foreigner will put their child on these child safety seats. If you take taxi in China 2nd tier cities and put on safety belts, the driver will know that you are probably a foreigner. In some cities in China, the safety belt in the taxi will stain your clothes with dirt because they are so seldom used. Shanghai city has just put up a law that the front passenger need to put on safety belt. Again, you won’t find safety belts behind the passenger seat because the safety belts are covered with the seat cover. If a PRC Chinese driver is given a choice to buy a vehicle without safety belts at a cheaper price, I bet you more than half will opt for it.
PRC Chinese drivers are only proficient with 7 levels of driving skills. (Drive straight, turn right & left, brake, reverse, start and turn off engine). Perhaps you may find it quite exaggerated but this is true here after 14 years of observation. If you visit Carrefour stores in Shanghai on weekends where there are steep slopes in the car park, you will notice that most waiting cars on the slope that leads to Carrefour dare not follow each car too closely. The waiting cars behind you will keep a distance of 3 car lengths from you. Why? Most drivers on manual gears wouldn’t know how to execute the hang on technique after they have released their handbrakes and most would usually fall backwards.
Most drivers here in China will take a few attempts to complete reverse parking and parallel parking. In extreme cases where they couldn’t park their cars properly, they will just leave it in any corner big enough for cars to park.
If the relevant authorities in Singapore are not doing anything quickly to improve the safety of Singapore roads by issuing driving licenses to foreigners from 3rd world countries with theory test conversion, then I would expect more fatal road accidents to happen. Traffic accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of rich, poor, PAP ministers or the oppositions. You don’t have to wait too long for the next fatal traffic accident to happen.
Perhaps the traffic police in Singapore may like to announce how many driver licenses they have issued to PRC Chinese in Singapore. Don’t forget, PRC Chinese pedestrians are equally good at creating traffic accidents too.
Good Luck!
.
Brad Lee from Shanghai, China
I am appalled to learn from TR Emeritus readers that PRC Chinese in Singapore with valid China driving license only has to take a theory test before they can drive legally on the roads.
It has also come to my understanding that Gerard Ee, chairman of the Public Transport Council, has rejected the suggestion of laying down restrictions on high-performance cars on the road and thinks that the onus should be on drivers to be responsible. I believe many Singaporeans would agree with Gerard Ee statement here, but let me tell you honestly that this is an erroneous assumption that will lead to more deaths on the roads in Singapore.
I can understand why Gerard or any Singaporeans think that way since you don’t live here in China like I do. You would assume it as individual responsibility for this unfortunate accident, but I tell you here honestly, it is not individual responsibility that matters. It is also erroneous to put it that PRC Chinese in Singapore are not used to right hand drive on Singapore roads. You are dealing with PRC Chinese drivers and you have to understand the entire situation in China.
It took me 14 years in China to study and observe PRC Chinese behavior, and without prejudice against them, dangerous driving in China is a way of life. Dangerous driving on roads in China is acceptable and practiced daily by almost every Chinese driver here. Dangerous and irresponsible driving in China is simply as natural as going to the grocery store to pick your weekly necessities and there is nothing to be ashamed here in China. If you don’t drive dangerously or irresponsibly, you are probably not a PRC Chinese. It is so easy to spot cars dashing across red lights in China, driving against traffic, driving on pedestrian pavement, park your car in the opposite direction, stop your car in the expressway without turning on the hazard lights, make phone calls while driving or stop your car by the side and pee on the road, Just to name a few examples.
Nobody here or drivers here in China would ever scorn at you for performing all these acts that are clearly against the traffic laws. There are no moral or social obligations among Chinese PRC drivers that cut your queue or honk at you to move while the traffic light is red. Chinese drivers are unashamed of their actions even if they flout traffic rules. If they are caught by the traffic police and be given a ticket, most PRC Chinese would regard that as mere unfortunate individual incident and not something to be ashamed. For most PRC Chinese drivers, to be awarded traffic ticket is like losing a bit of money in casino, plain unlucky and no remorse in their actions. In other words, yes, PRC Chinese have no moral or social obligations, disregard for law and order is acceptable in the Chinese society.
Most PRC Chinese drivers would like to think within the perimeters of their understanding. Why do you need to obey the traffic lights if there are no traffic cameras, no traffic police, no pedestrians and no cars at the junction? Here’s an analogy. If you stop at the red light where these conditions are presented, you are probably a moron to most PRC Chinese drivers, and they will just cut in front of you and drive across the junction.
Please bear in mind that the term “lawful society” materialized after 1984 when Chairman Deng Xiaoping established the police force with 110 police hotline at Guangzhou city. For most PRC Chinese, driving and road safety is very new to them since they used to ride bicycles back in mid 90s or less than 17 years ago. China has developed too quickly economically to put enough thoughts on road safety, cultivate a sense of social responsibilities or catch up with the traffic system of developed countries. The speed of economic development in China is faster than the development of moral and social values in China and hence an unequal balance in the Chinese society.
Many Singapore netizens have questioned the moral obligations of the Ma family to send representatives to Mr Cheng and Ms Ito’s wake. The Ma family members should at least offer their apologies and condolences but that was never done. I am not surprised at all by such uncompassionate and selfish behavior of the Ma’s family after living in China for 14 years. For all you may not know, Ma Chi’s family members may even regard his death as mere unfortunate accident caused by the taxi driver, and not as a result of his irresponsible actions. In extreme case, they may even twist the logic that the taxi driver should also look out for Ma Chi’s car, and then you will find yourself speaking and reasoning with someone from another planet. My wife and I in China like to joke and regard this form of unreasonable and distorted Chinese thinking as “Tsinghua’s logic”.
So, fellow Singaporeans who don’t live in China may wish to ask me some simple questions. How exactly unsafe are PRC Chinese drivers? What are the levels of safety consciousness among PRC Chinese drivers? What is their level of driving skills?
I live in Chengdu and Shanghai, and in both cities, I drive to work. In Chengdu city, I honk at cars on daily basis. Why? Most Singaporeans would assume that it is impolite to honk at someone else, but in China I honk at car frequently to avoid accident. Most of the PRC Chinese drivers would switch lanes without looking at their side mirror and I can sense it before these drivers attempt to switch their lanes. Most Chinese drivers wouldn’t bother to look at blind spot before they switch lanes. Most drivers in China have very poor judgment skills at switching lanes.
Interestingly, the question of checking blind spot prior to switching lanes is not found in China driving theory test questions. I’m not kidding with you. Most drivers I notice here don’t turn on their hazard lights when they stop their cars on expressway. Of course, it is not advisable to stop your cars on the expressway but some of these PRC Chinese drivers simply want to relieve themselves at the side of the road. On the expressway in China, you will find sedan cars traveling at 50km/h on the fast lane. You can also easily find trucks and bus that road hog the fast lane. All car lanes on the expressway in China are the same, and you will find cars and buses that overtake each other on the expressway. It is an unimaginable traffic mess here in China.
In the rush hours in China, smaller driving lanes are usually clogged up with cars to standstill because no cars on the roads are willing to give way or obey the traffic rules. I observe cars from turning filter lanes don’t give way to cars from the main road. The whole traffic system can become so chaotic and these cars move inch by inch. Interestingly, the question of cars from filter lanes should give way to cars from the main road is not found on China driving theory test questions.
Most Chinese drivers don’t put on seat belts when they drive because they are not comfortable with the strap. I even have a Shanghai friend who told me that the safety strap is affecting his breathing while he drives. I explained him that the safety belt is as natural as putting on the underwear. After all, for most men, your crotch can sometimes be caught in between the linings of your underwear and you may need to make some simple adjustments.
Most PRC fathers in China don’t put their kids on the child safety seats. The safety awareness level is so low that when I brought my car for car wash in China, the car wash guy said that I am definitely a foreigner although I try to lie to him I am not. The car wash guy told me that my car has a child safety seat and that only foreigner will put their child on these child safety seats. If you take taxi in China 2nd tier cities and put on safety belts, the driver will know that you are probably a foreigner. In some cities in China, the safety belt in the taxi will stain your clothes with dirt because they are so seldom used. Shanghai city has just put up a law that the front passenger need to put on safety belt. Again, you won’t find safety belts behind the passenger seat because the safety belts are covered with the seat cover. If a PRC Chinese driver is given a choice to buy a vehicle without safety belts at a cheaper price, I bet you more than half will opt for it.
PRC Chinese drivers are only proficient with 7 levels of driving skills. (Drive straight, turn right & left, brake, reverse, start and turn off engine). Perhaps you may find it quite exaggerated but this is true here after 14 years of observation. If you visit Carrefour stores in Shanghai on weekends where there are steep slopes in the car park, you will notice that most waiting cars on the slope that leads to Carrefour dare not follow each car too closely. The waiting cars behind you will keep a distance of 3 car lengths from you. Why? Most drivers on manual gears wouldn’t know how to execute the hang on technique after they have released their handbrakes and most would usually fall backwards.
Most drivers here in China will take a few attempts to complete reverse parking and parallel parking. In extreme cases where they couldn’t park their cars properly, they will just leave it in any corner big enough for cars to park.
If the relevant authorities in Singapore are not doing anything quickly to improve the safety of Singapore roads by issuing driving licenses to foreigners from 3rd world countries with theory test conversion, then I would expect more fatal road accidents to happen. Traffic accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of rich, poor, PAP ministers or the oppositions. You don’t have to wait too long for the next fatal traffic accident to happen.
Perhaps the traffic police in Singapore may like to announce how many driver licenses they have issued to PRC Chinese in Singapore. Don’t forget, PRC Chinese pedestrians are equally good at creating traffic accidents too.
Good Luck!
.
Brad Lee from Shanghai, China
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your religion provide you with prayer . so which one more reliable ? 
