traffic and the world

[indigo_rose99]

We often joke about who goes first at traffic stop signs in Texas being the pickup truck with the gun rack and the bumper sticker that says "Guns don't kill people, I do."

This is far more true in China than in Texas. No, not the pickup trucks or the gun racks or even the bumper stickers. China roads are run with the attitude of the most aggressive vehicle winning the traffic contest regardless of who has the legal right of way. Bicycles ignore traffic lights. Cars wander lanes or even make up their own lane. Walking is clearly at one's own risk. The biggest fastest moving bus wins at every intersection even if the light and pedestrian walkways say differently.

Locals tell me that this is the result of a variety of things. In the West we are trained as young children to stand patiently in line, not to cut. Chinese are not. Locals tell me part of the problem is overpopulation without the infrastructure keeping pace.

I do feel that I am looking at the future world leaders 20 or 30 years down the line. The go-get-em culture here over shadows everywhere else I've traveled with the possible exception of India. But the question is, will China acquire the road and pedestrian habits of the rest of the world or spread their own?

Comments

[aurienne.livejournal.com]

funny -- right around when you posted, someone I read in australia just posted about right of way: http://dmmaus.livejournal.com/331270.html?view=1537030

[steelgoh.livejournal.com]

I think that our American road manners are disintigrating all on their own. As we become more tolerant of 100 percent distracted drivers and aggressive drivers, we will erode the system.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

I think you are correct, sadly. I have been watching traffic in this area as the city grows. People are more and more rude on the road. Even after only 15 years, the difference is startling. I look at traffic in larger cities in Texas and it is worse there. That is probably our future.