| I'm interested in the selfish mentality , Shanghai Slim and Wisnu have mentioned, that caused the negligence of the drivers. Who are these drivers? Well educated people who drive a nice expensive car. Or are they just the bad educated taxi drivers? Or both?
Is the negligence behavior also caused by their high pace of life (always in a hurry and rush)? Time=money=selfish mentality? Is this equation true in the Chinese minds? Or does the problem comes from the frustration and stress because of the congestions? Some studies reveal that traffic jams cause frustration and therefore aggressiveness. What's the main reason of the chinese driving mentality then? A quote: 'Chinese people as a society show trust in each other. Pedestrians frequently step out in front of moving vehicles. Cars cut each other off with a minimum of clearance. But I see or hear of no “road rage.” People show great self-control. Chinese drivers are defensive drivers. They constantly watch other vehicles and pedestrians. They want no contact with either! On the other hand, drivers in the United States are too often aggressive rather than defensive. In their aggression, their attention is focused primarily on traffic lights. They try to reach the lights before they change. Their first thought, if they hit anything, is whether they legally had the right of way.' source: http://www.bjreview.com.cn/En-2005/05-37-e/expateye.htm |
Traffic Rules in Shanghai - Part II