DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL

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found this on the internet

The basics of Driving in China…

Here is the explanation of a simple concept: the left turn.
For the ones who live in China: an overview of what we live everyday For the ones who are out of China: happy memories of the traffic here!

step 1

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We see here a typical intersection. The light has just turned green for the east-west streets, and car [A], an enormous black Audi with pitch black windows, wants to make a left turn into the southbound lanes. Pedestrians wait on each corner. (For purposes of this demonstration, we’ll assume no one is running the north-south red light, and no one is jaywalking – a rather large assumption.)

STEP2

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To make a left turn, it is VITAL that [A] cut off all eastbound traffic as soon as possible. The first few brave or foolish legitimate pedestrians step off the curb; this is of no concern. [A] makes his move

STEP3

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NO! Too slow! [A] has managed to partially block [B], a brand new purple and yellow Hyundai taxi, but [A] has only achieved whatBeijing drivers would consider a ‘weak’ blocking position.

STEP 4

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In this detail, we can see why: [A] has only inserted his left bumper and cannot move forward without contact. [B], on the other hand, is in the dominant position – by putting his wheel hard to the right and flooring it, he can fully block [A].

STEP 5

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[B] proceeds to swerve right, cutting off [C], a tiny red Peugeot with a gold plastic dragon hood ornament, spoiler and assorted knobs glued on. Since [B] is just accelerating, and [C] is now decelerating, this has created a low-density ‘dead space’ in the intersection. [D], a strange blue tricycle dumptruck carrying what appear to be 40 of the world’s oldest propane tanks, sees this and makes a move.

STEP 6

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DENIED! [E], an old red taxi with its name sloppily stenciled in white on its doors, has boldly cut across two lanes of traffic, behind [D], and then swerved right, driving [D] into an extremely weak position behind [A]. Meanwhile, [B] and [C] are still fighting for position, with [C] muscling his way into the crosswalk. The only thing between [E] and a successful left turn is a few lawful pedestrians. [E] steps on the gas…

STEP 7

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…and is cut off by [F], an elderly man pedaling his tricycle verrrryyy slooooowwwly with a 15-foot-diameter sphere of empty plastic cooking oil bottles bungee-corded haphazardly to the cargo area. He was part of the lawful pedestrians, but seeing the stalled traffic, decided to cut diagonally across the intersection. Not only has [F] blocked [E], he is headed straight at [B], giving [C] the edge he needs.

STEP 8

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[B] concedes to [C], who drives in the crosswalk behind [F] and blocks [E]. Meanwhile, [G], a herd of about 20 bicycles, mopeds, pedestrians and wheelbarrows, sensing weakness in the eastbound lane and seeing that much of the westbound traffic is blocked behind [D], breaks north against the light. [F] pedals doggedly onward at about 2 miles per hour, his face like chiseled marble.

STEP 9

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Now things get interesting. [C] has broken free and, as the first vehicle to get where he was going, wins. [E] makes a move to block [B] but, like [A] at the start of the left turn, only gains a ‘weak’ block. [A] has cleverly let [F] pass and guns into a crowd of [G], which both moves [A] forward and drives some [G] stragglers into the path of [D], clearing [A]’s flanks. Little now stands between [A] and a strong second-place finish.

STEP 10

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STEP 10

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Except for public bus [H], one of those double buses with the accordion-thing connector. [H] has been screaming unnoticed along the eastbound sidewalk and now careens dangerously into a U-turn. This doesn’t appear to concern the 112 people packed inside and pressed against the windows (although that could be due to a lack of oxygen.) [H] completely blocks both [A] and [D]. On the other side of the intersection, [B] has swerved into the lawful pedestrians (who aren’t important enough to warrant a letter) and has gained position on [E]. [E] has forgotten the face of his father: He was so focused on his battle with [B] that he lost sight of the ultimate goal and is now hopelessly out of position. This clears the path for dark horse [I], a blue Buick Lacrosse, to cut all the way across behind [H] and become the second vehicle to get where he was going (and the first to complete a left turn), since [F] has changed his mind again and is now gradually drifting north into the southbound lanes. But everyone better hurry, because the light is about to change…

STEP 11

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And we’re ready to start over…AGAIN

Hilarious!

I have read this before but still enjoyed as much laugh as my first time reading it.

Brilliant. Someone with a deep understanding of the Chinese driver psyche. The magic at the end always surprises me. I would suggest too that in Step 1 A started from the right hand lane to get a jump on the car in the legitimate turning lane.

First time I read this, was laughing out loud ! :lol8:
This is excellent, a masterful demonstration of the daily driving logic we face at every crossroad !

Brilliant stuff !

Classic. :lol8::lol8::lol8:

Appreciated :)

Genius writing; it's good to summarize these things and have a laugh so that we don't go bonkers due to overexposure and immense frustration :lol8:.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fred

First time I read this, was laughing out loud ! :lol8:
This is excellent, a masterful demonstration of the daily driving logic we face at every crossroad !

Brilliant stuff !

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I guess it does count as a sort of logic over here.
'When in Rome...'

This has been floating around since 2007, it's genius and only gets truer as the years go by and the traffic congests more. I laugh every time i read it.

Here is the original link, to give credit to the author:
http://soimgoingtochina.blogspot.com...left-turn.html

agh, i got this in an email (pdf i think) looks like we know the same people (or a friend of a friend does)

i really hope you guys over in china dont get caught up in this too often i would be so confused with all of this at most i have to deal with a woman taking her kids to school trying to go into my lane where i am quite clearly occupying a space

so true... and it applies even more so today than it ever did... new cars and new drivers... oh for a rocket launcher mounted on my car or bikes... or better yet the ability to fly at will...

i saw a pretty close rendition of "F" today
just had to share

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8002/7...8b8cd5c5_z.jpg
2012-06-28_17-10-50_910 by johnnyfast, on Flickr

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zhu

i saw a pretty close rendition of "F" today
just had to share

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8002/7...8b8cd5c5_z.jpg
2012-06-28_17-10-50_910 by johnnyfast, on Flickr

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They are obviously just starting out for the day, as there are still several vulnerable positions on top, for more... then and only then will even weight distribution be attained...

true and good that they have the youngster out learning the value of a kuai