Traffic Safety
From ChinaTravelGuide
Contents |
[edit] Driving etiquette
You should expect a very different driving etiquette in China. Traffic is often chaotic, and right-of-way and other courtesies are often ignored. Pedestrians often need to yield to the cars while crossing the traffic.
[edit] Parking
Parking space is often hard to find in public areas. Foreigners with resident permits can apply for PRC driver licenses. However it's better to employ a local driver.
[edit] Seatbelt
Try to wear seatbelts even though it's not required in some areas. Child safety seats are not widely available.
[edit] Bicycles
Bicycles are the main transportation tool for most citizens. However, safety helmets are not required.
[edit] Handling traffic accidents
Most traffic accidents involve collisions or unexpected road hazards (e.g., unmarked open manholes).
All drivers should be aware of the Chinese regulations regarding traffic accidents. These include the requirement that drivers:
- Not move their vehicles or disturb the scene of the accident unless and until ordered to by the traffic police (in Shanghai and Beijing, the police now prefer that if the parties can reach agreement as to who was at fault they move the vehicles out of the flow of traffic.)
- Summon the traffic police and wait at the scene until the police arrive and complete their investigation.
If called to an accident, the police may take 20 minutes or longer to arrive. Once the police arrive, they will complete a preliminary investigation and arrange a time for you to report to the police station responsible for the accident scene. The police will prepare a written report, in Chinese, describing the circumstances of the accident. They will present the report to you either at the scene, or more likely at the police station, and ask you to sign it verifying the details of the accident. Do not sign the report as is unless your Chinese is good enough to completely understand the report and you find it totally accurate. If you either do not understand it or believe it is partly or wholly inaccurate, you may either:
- Write a disclaimer on the report to the effect that you cannot read and understand the report and cannot attest to the accuracy thereof, but are signing it because of the police requirement that you do so, and then sign, or
- Write your own version of the accident, in English, on the police form and indicate that your signature only attests to the accuracy of the English version.
Most incidents (such as an accident) will draw a crowd. Drivers should remain calm. A crowd will usually move in very close to the accident and participants. In many cases the bystanders consider themselves to be an ad hoc jury. They may call for money, usually from RMB 100 to 1,000, to be paid by the party they consider at fault. The amount is not necessarily relevant to the amount of damage. A certain amount of bargaining is normal, even at accidents involving two Chinese parties. Though a crowd may seem threatening, crowd assaults on foreigners at accidents have not been reported. If a traffic police booth is nearby, you may wish to leave the vehicle and walk there to await the arrival of the police accident team. Alternatively, you may walk to a shop, restaurant, or other location nearby in the immediate vicinity and wait for police.
Your vehicle should not leave the scene of an accident. Your actions may serve to further incite the crowd if they perceive that you are fleeing to evade responsibility for your share of blame or payment of damages. The crowd may attempt to keep your vehicle at the accident scene by standing in the way or blocking the roadway with vehicles, bicycles and other objects.
Visit the web site of the China National Tourist Bureau, the Chinese authority responsible for road safety, at [1].
