| Carsten,
I have lived in Shanghai for three years, so I will try to answer your following questions based on my observations: << I wouldn't say the Chinese drivers are less skillful just because they have their spouses or friends to guide them backing their cars in. In most cases, the parking spaces are very narrow which makes parking into them much harder than it would in the States. The reason dirvers here like to back in the parking space is probably because it makes exiting easier as Shanghai seems to have non-stop traffic, and nobody, I really mean it NOBODY gives you the courtesy to back out even if you are half way out already. << Do you mean parallel parking? Yes, they do although not as often because many streets in Shanghai are quite narrow with two lanes only. Parking parallelly takes away driving lanes. << I'd love to know the rules of right-of-way in China too. I am sure there are, but most people don't follow them. Even when pedestrian lights turn green, you still see cars run through red lights, let alone motorcyles and bikes. What's worse is often times drivers stop their cars on crosswalks. I understand the police are fining dirvers 200 RMB for doing so, but in most intersections there are no police. Another phenomenon is when pedestrians walk arcoss the streets, often they are stopped by approaching vehicles that make right turns. I would think the pedestrians have the right of way in such cases, but then so what? Won't you stop walking if a car making a turn dosn't stop in front of you? So in my opinion, as Shanghai's economy taking big strides, people ought to learn rules of civilizations just as quickly. I think most people from the States(at least) who now live in Shanghai will agree with me that drivers and pedestrians are equally hectic. I am a seasoned driver, but I wouldn't want to drive here. In summary, from drivers who told me: who has the right-of-way on roads? The answer is whoever, be they cars or pedestrians, get onto the street first. With 6,000 new licence plates being auctioned off in Shanghai in each month, I'm afraid we will only see traffic get worse before it gets better. |
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