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http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/04/06/introduction-of-prc-drivers-habits-to-singaporeans/
Drivers in China
I am a Singaporean and I have lived and worked in China for more than 14 years. First, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Madam Chan Ah Yong who was killed by SBS PRC driver while she was walking across the road. I believe more accidents like these are likely to happen in Singapore.
Before I started my work in China, I used to laugh at how Malaysians drive on the road. I thought Malaysian were dangerous drivers and lack the skills to drive properly on the road. After I started to work and live in China, I would say the Malaysian drivers are world class safety conscious drivers if you want to compare them with PRC drivers. Singaporeans like to laugh at Malaysian “kopi” licence. Please wait till you experience PRC driving, then you will find Malaysian standard of driving is world class.
We shouldn’t hate or dislike the PRC driver who killed Madam Yong. I believe he or she didn’t do it intentionally. The PRC driver from SBS is only trying to make a decent living. Let me explain why.
The system in China created thousand of killer drivers each year. The system of driving test in China is full of flaws. Although in PRC, they have theory driving test and practical test but these tests don’t focus on the safety aspect like how we emphasized in Singapore. Have you ever remember how you fail your driving test in Singapore because you fail to look for blind spot before you switch you lane, car fell backwards on the slope, failed 1st attempt on parallel parking etc? Have you ever been so disappointed with Singapore traffic police because they failed your practical driving test because you fail to demonstrate the minimum level of competency. You have probably thought those requirement are not important. The driving tests requirement in Singapore is to drive the sense of safe driving into your subconscious mind and make it a habit.
Let me tell you honestly what I have observed in China for the past 14 years. A person in China that obtains his or her driver licence is likely to demonstrate only 7 level skills. Of course, this is not the official requirement in China driving test. However, in reality, most drivers in China only has 7 level of driving skills. What are the 7 levels of PRC driving skills?
• Start the car
• Turn off the engine
• Drive straight
• Turn right
• Turn left
• Reverse
• Brake
Drivers in China usually don’t turn on the hazard lights when they stopped their vehicles on road or expressway. China drivers don’t put on safety belts when they drive. It is quite common to see drivers flung out of their vehicles in the event of accidents. Drivers in China don’t look at blind spot before they switch their lanes.
My PRC friends in China find it perfectly normal and acceptable not to look at blind spot or give way to pedestrians. Most drivers in China don’t comply with the traffic rules such as driving in their lanes. Across all the highways in China and cities, you can easily find trucks or buses on the fast lane. There is no such thing as overtaking lane. It’s so easy to find a 4 lane expressway stuck with all kinds of vehicles in China. It’s also quite common to find drivers driving at 60km/h on the fast lane with speed limit of 90km/h.
All lanes are overtaking lanes in China. Drivers in China don’t give way to ambulances or fire engines. It is quit easy in China to spot Police cars and civil service cars in China flouting traffic rules. It’s also quite easy to spot vehicles driving against the opposite incoming traffic. Well, the reasons given by these PRC drivers of course is, “I miss the bend”.
I ask my Chinese friends why they don’t give way to pedestrians. They explained to me that cars in China are known as “Jiao Che”, literally means sedan cars. In the olden days, goverment officials of a certain rank move around in sedan and the common people have to give way to these officials. Anything with 4 wheels has a status in China. In
China, it’s perfectly normal for pedestrians to give way to vehicles. It’s also perfectly normal to find pedestrians walking leisurely in the middle or the side of the driving lane.
If the Singapore government is planning to turn our bus drivers to PRC nationals, we need to educate the public to be aware of such habits.
Good Luck Singapore.
.
Brad Lee
Drivers in China
I am a Singaporean and I have lived and worked in China for more than 14 years. First, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Madam Chan Ah Yong who was killed by SBS PRC driver while she was walking across the road. I believe more accidents like these are likely to happen in Singapore.
Before I started my work in China, I used to laugh at how Malaysians drive on the road. I thought Malaysian were dangerous drivers and lack the skills to drive properly on the road. After I started to work and live in China, I would say the Malaysian drivers are world class safety conscious drivers if you want to compare them with PRC drivers. Singaporeans like to laugh at Malaysian “kopi” licence. Please wait till you experience PRC driving, then you will find Malaysian standard of driving is world class.
We shouldn’t hate or dislike the PRC driver who killed Madam Yong. I believe he or she didn’t do it intentionally. The PRC driver from SBS is only trying to make a decent living. Let me explain why.
The system in China created thousand of killer drivers each year. The system of driving test in China is full of flaws. Although in PRC, they have theory driving test and practical test but these tests don’t focus on the safety aspect like how we emphasized in Singapore. Have you ever remember how you fail your driving test in Singapore because you fail to look for blind spot before you switch you lane, car fell backwards on the slope, failed 1st attempt on parallel parking etc? Have you ever been so disappointed with Singapore traffic police because they failed your practical driving test because you fail to demonstrate the minimum level of competency. You have probably thought those requirement are not important. The driving tests requirement in Singapore is to drive the sense of safe driving into your subconscious mind and make it a habit.
Let me tell you honestly what I have observed in China for the past 14 years. A person in China that obtains his or her driver licence is likely to demonstrate only 7 level skills. Of course, this is not the official requirement in China driving test. However, in reality, most drivers in China only has 7 level of driving skills. What are the 7 levels of PRC driving skills?
• Start the car
• Turn off the engine
• Drive straight
• Turn right
• Turn left
• Reverse
• Brake
Drivers in China usually don’t turn on the hazard lights when they stopped their vehicles on road or expressway. China drivers don’t put on safety belts when they drive. It is quite common to see drivers flung out of their vehicles in the event of accidents. Drivers in China don’t look at blind spot before they switch their lanes.
My PRC friends in China find it perfectly normal and acceptable not to look at blind spot or give way to pedestrians. Most drivers in China don’t comply with the traffic rules such as driving in their lanes. Across all the highways in China and cities, you can easily find trucks or buses on the fast lane. There is no such thing as overtaking lane. It’s so easy to find a 4 lane expressway stuck with all kinds of vehicles in China. It’s also quite common to find drivers driving at 60km/h on the fast lane with speed limit of 90km/h.
All lanes are overtaking lanes in China. Drivers in China don’t give way to ambulances or fire engines. It is quit easy in China to spot Police cars and civil service cars in China flouting traffic rules. It’s also quite easy to spot vehicles driving against the opposite incoming traffic. Well, the reasons given by these PRC drivers of course is, “I miss the bend”.
I ask my Chinese friends why they don’t give way to pedestrians. They explained to me that cars in China are known as “Jiao Che”, literally means sedan cars. In the olden days, goverment officials of a certain rank move around in sedan and the common people have to give way to these officials. Anything with 4 wheels has a status in China. In
China, it’s perfectly normal for pedestrians to give way to vehicles. It’s also perfectly normal to find pedestrians walking leisurely in the middle or the side of the driving lane.
If the Singapore government is planning to turn our bus drivers to PRC nationals, we need to educate the public to be aware of such habits.
Good Luck Singapore.
.
Brad Lee
