[m14]

I read this article on some blog on the net...what do u guys think...i personally think the article is nonsense


I simply tell them the truth. I remind them that Chinese are not as familiar with automobiles, and driving, as we Americans are. We were introduced to cars on the ride home from the hospital. The journey from the car-seat, to the back seat, to shotgun, to the driver’s seat takes about seventeen years. So, by the time we’re ready to drive, we’re ready to drive.

Chinese don’t have this opportunity to learn driving through osmosis. Their main modes of transportation are bicycles and motorcycles, for which the rules of the road are quite different.

We take our driving skills for granted, The Chinese are still learning., not only in America, but also in China. Turns out that their driving record in China is as bad as their driving reputation in America ...
Although they have far less automobiles than does America, their death rate per 1000 cars is 8 times that of the American rate. It is noted that although road conditions do play a role, roughly seventy-five percent of these deaths are the result of driver error.

It takes time to learn the automobile and it’s rules. I remember after the war when blacks could first afford automobiles enmasse, folks used to do racial jokes about our driving skills. Eventually we got over it and so did they.

Drive defensively and stop bad-mouthing Chinese drivers.

I simply tell them the truth. I remind them that Chinese are not as familiar with automobiles, and driving, as we Americans are. We were introduced to cars on the ride home from the hospital. The journey from the car-seat, to the back seat, to shotgun, to the driver’s seat takes about seventeen years. So, by the time we’re ready to drive, we’re ready to drive.

Chinese don’t have this opportunity to learn driving through osmosis. Their main modes of transportation are bicycles and motorcycles, for which the rules of the road are quite different.

We take our driving skills for granted, The Chinese are still learning., not only in America, but also in China. Turns out that their driving record in China is as bad as their driving reputation in America.

Although they have far less automobiles than does America, their death rate per 1000 cars is 8 times that of the American rate. It is noted that although road conditions do play a role, roughly seventy-five percent of these deaths are the result of driver error.

It takes time to learn the automobile and it’s rules. I remember after the war when blacks could first afford automobiles enmasse, folks used to do racial jokes about our driving skills. Eventually we got over it and so did they.

Drive defensively and stop bad-mouthing Chinese drivers.

 

[dragin]

m14 that's an interesting article and I think I would have to agree with the author.

Motor vehicle culture involves an entire mindset that takes years for a newly emerging country to develop. It's not just the drivers but the pedestrians and even animals. Everyone (even the dogs) in the first world is conditioned to the presence of fast moving vehicles virtually from birth.
But when the farmer in a remote village of a country like China steps out of his house onto the dirt road, up until now he didn't expect anything more threatening than a donkey cart.

I find it especially mind boggling that engineers who don't even have a drivers license, are designing cars. And highway traffic engineers without drivers licenses are expected to understand and enhance traffic flow.

By the way I think this post needn't be in the "off topic" category.

 

[BringIt]

I completely disagree with the statement that the Chinese don't know how to drive.

I live in the US and has been to Asia (and China) quite a bit. What I find is Asia has superior drivers, by far.

If you don't think it takes some superhuman ability to go from point A to point B in massively chaotic traffic, pedestrians and bikes everwhere, terrible road conditions, then you're kidding yourselves.

Take a typical American driver and stick him/her into China's roads, he/she won't even be able to pull out of the drive way, much less tackle the crazy driving conditions.

Remember, in China, only extremely capable drivers get on the road. In the US, all people, good or bad at driving, are forced to get on the road because they have to - there's no other mode of transportation.

With that said, why is the death rate so much higher in China? Well, let's start with the horrible road conditions and the massive number of pedestrians and bikes. Then there's the lower safety equipments in the cars. And finally, probably the most important, is that the drivers don't obey traffic rules.

In summary, Chinese drivers are law breakers, not bad drivers (no driving skills).

 

[Rock-N-Roll]

...What I find is Asia has superior drivers, by far.

If you don't think it takes some superhuman ability to go from point A to point B in massively chaotic traffic, pedestrians and bikes everwhere, terrible road conditions, then you're kidding yourselves.

Take a typical American driver and stick him/her into China's roads, he/she won't even be able to pull out of the drive way, much less tackle the crazy driving conditions.

Remember, in China, only extremely capable drivers get on the road. In the US, all people, good or bad at driving, are forced to get on the road because they have to - there's no other mode of transportation.

With that said, why is the death rate so much higher in China? Well, let's start with the horrible road conditions and the massive number of pedestrians and bikes. Then there's the lower safety equipments in the cars. And finally, probably the most important, is that the drivers don't obey traffic rules.

In summary, Chinese drivers are law breakers, not bad drivers (no driving skills).

They have traffic rules?

Although I usually hate your posts, you are actually correct on this one. Anyone who has ever driven in any country in Asia knows there is only one rule - there are absolutely no rules. It is the ultimate "everyone save yourself" driving mentality. It would be a blast, amusement wise, if it were not so deadly.

 

[gr8]

i totally disagree with the article. i live in canada and been to the us before, and also been to many major cities in china such as shanghai, beijing etc. one thing is for sure, compared to the chinese the americans are pussy drivers. the americans has 40km/h zones for the school where there are hardly anyone crossing, the chinese can go up to 80km/h in a crowed pedestrian area with 20 times the pedestrians.
oh yea btw in north america the drivers training is usually about 10 hours (what i got) and 1 hour road test with consist of simple turning and parallel parking and not even traffic circles or highways. And in my town i could drive with an adult when i was 14!!! and get full licence when im 16!!!!(100% legal) even an idiot can drive in north america.
in china you need at least 100hours of training. oh yea i think the test they have are overnight, because they need to be tested for highway driving etc etc.
there are no doubt, the chinese are superior drivers.

 

[dragin]

They have traffic rules?

Although I usually hate your posts, you are actually correct on this one. Anyone who has ever driven in any country in Asia knows there is only one rule - there are absolutely no rules. It is the ultimate "everyone save yourself" driving mentality. It would be a blast, amusement wise, if it were not so deadly.

In China I was amazed to find that there are (unwritten rules) of the road, that keep the traffic flowing with relatively few mishaps. I think lots of credit is due these Chinese drivers, most of whom are new to the world of car/truck/bus transportation.

The Western paradigm doesn't have a monopoly on rules. Those of us from the West tend to think that everyone must act in accordance to our rules. But we would do well to recognize the rules that spring from deep within a time-honored civilization.

Having said this, there's no denying that accident statistics don't lie. Safety education from childhood up is imperative.

And so there's still a long way to go before Chinese traffic system operates with smooth efficiency.

 

[bassfisher]

I reside in Central Canada and travel extensive to the usa, europe and far east including china (hong kong) and have worked in telecom in saudi arabia.
Within canada, asian drivers get a reputation which they, in fact, earn. The poor driving extends to chinese, japanese and indian/pakistanis. The lack of experience couples with substandard vision and results in many accidents and fatalities on canadian hiways.
It is illegal for canadian automotive insurers to charge higher rates on the basis of race and it is illegal for police to maintain racial accident claim records or references--so not able to post actual statistics for deaths.
Practical experience has shown me that very few orientals (none?) drive cabs or delivery vans and i have never seen an oriental truck driver in north america.
To wit, n.america has a huge shortfall of highly paid truckers and major haulage companies have taken to recruiting retirees as drivers even though many oriental refugee claimants arrive daily and are willing to work for less than minimum wage.
I am saddened to admit that we have oriental driving disorder.