Saturday, May 10, 2008

Rules of Driving in China

It seems so odd now to drive on calm roads. I saw someone crossing along a road the other day, and it made me think about all the “froggers” criss-crossing highways and streets at all times in China. It was always like driving through an obstacle course. Here in the US, it is like a calm stroll in the park.

A friend in China once told me about a video driving game where the challenge was to pass through different countries of the world. The toughest was China, because it suddenly had people crossing the street and cars driving in every direction. That is a pretty good representation of how it is there.

I was recently told they have two rules in China about driving:

  1. Do not hit anything or anyone
  2. Do not get hit by anything or anyone

Anything else is pretty well free game. In fact, I am convinced after three years of riding the roads and watching, that the Chinese will take any opportunity for gain in driving. If a shoulder is drivable, drive on it. If you can get through an intersection without getting hit or tracked by a camera, running a red light is okay. (Thankfully, they put up more cameras!)

The Asian driver just has an entirely different attitude toward driving. My friends at Here Dongguan summed it up best in an analogy a few months ago: If a Westerner on a two lane road goes around a blind curve and is met by two cars coming at him in both lanes, he freaks out and brakes to get off the road. If an Asian meets the same situation, he veers over to let the cars pass and continues along driving on the shoulder.

I have had that exact situation time and time again in the backroads of Thailand. And it is just amazing. Cars just continue to pass, and everyone just makes way and keeps on moving without a care in the world. I am usually in the floorboard scared to look!

In China, it was not uncommon to have cars coming at you down the wrong way of a street or highway. Motorcycles used any lane or passageway, and frequently drove the wrong way down the inside lane to get ahead.

All the while, Chinese just “usually” obey the two rules, keep moving, and avoid each other without a care in the world.

Me, I am glad to be back on American soil driving in the right lane without the “froggers’ and cars going the wrong direction.

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posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 11:55 PM Comments: 0