Webcams: Only in China
Fast Tube by Casper
China was known in the 1980’s – 1990’s as “The Kingdom of Bicycles”. In today’s China no status symbol of wealth and prestige surpasses the automobile. With China’s new wealth, drivers see themselves as “important men”, traffic laws are suggestions, and accidents are handled with a quick 200 to 500 RMB paid off on the spot if the driver doesn’t just speed off. In addition, bystanders in China watch accidents, but never get involved or help.
This amazing traffic cam clip from Beijing earlier this month is a classic example. Two drivers at 5:30 in the morning with no traffic for miles in all directions refuse to give way or slow down at an intersection. Notice that the truck driver continues on after the accident. Notice there is a bystander bicyclists in the lower right hand corner of the video who keeps going as well. Only in China.
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Based on the time of day, this accident is more likely the result of over-tired workers/drivers at the end of a long shift of driving overnight. The big potatoes are all still asleep!
How do you prove this was “only in China”?
we don’t, but given the fact that china is very new to traffic, it make sense that this is a real traffic video. what patrick means is that only China is in this stage of maturity right now, traffic or otheriwise….
Zac and I spent a few years in China. China is a land of first generation drivers, most without formal drivers training. While living there we both were amazed as drivers never gave way to other drivers or pedestrians, actively went out of their way to do whatever was convenient and ignored traffic laws. A phrase used by ex-pat foreigners and many Chinese to explain the free form nature of Chinese driving was “Only in China”.