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#1 DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 12:58 AM
F
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
Driving-in-China-1a.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1b.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1c.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1d.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1e.jpg
[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.
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#2 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 01:11 AMSTEP 6
Driving-in-China-1f.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1g.jpg
…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
Driving-in-China-1h.jpg
[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
Driving-in-China-1i.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1j.jpg
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#3 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 01:18 AMSTEP 10
Driving-in-China-1j.jpg
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
Driving-in-China-1k.jpgDriving-in-China-1l.jpg
And we’re ready to start over…AGAIN
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#4 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 02:32 AM
Hilarious!
I have read this before but still enjoyed as much laugh as my first time reading it.
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#5 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 06:02 AM
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.
Chongqing
'12 Lifan 250 P
e-biker 48/64/72v
'77 CB 750 F1
'75 XL 250
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#6 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 01:19 PM
First time I read this, was laughing out loud !
This is excellent, a masterful demonstration of the daily driving logic we face at every crossroad !
Brilliant stuff !
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#7 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-09-2012, 11:10 PM
Classic.
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#8 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL06-10-2012, 09:33 AM
Appreciated :)
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#9 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Zibo, Shandong, China
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06-11-2012, 10:18 AMGenius 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 .
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#10 Re: DRIVING SKILLS IN CHINA HOPE THIS SORT MATTERS OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Zibo, Shandong, China
- Posts
- 371
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