Shanghai Traffic Preview

Referring to the second paragraph of my previous posting entitled "Shanghai", a video was especially made to illustrate just that. Before recording this video, I amuse myself by standing at the junction along Nanjing Road and Henan Road and watched every motorists' behaviors on the road.



To start with, for example, you'll first notice a cyclist (wearing red polo) ignored the traffic lights on his side and happily pedaled ahead while the road crossing this junction was still green. This is skill!

Then, when the light turns green, hordes and hordes of motor-cyclists revved up and jet by -- without helmets. The amount of cyclists and motorcyclists is a staggering number. Also take notice of sounds from just this video clip. Everybody is honking at one another -- and it's only normal. This is only one cross junction of Shanghai.

It's not that those without helmets are more prone to getting knocked down by another motorist, but the amount of motorists out there who are not abiding traffic rules. The attitude of crossing is more like when it's a clear way, go. It does not matter if it's either red, amber, or green. In a way, it tells me that these rules and pedestrian facilities are only for-show for those who doesn't drive anything bigger than a car. On the contrary, in Kuala Lumpur, pedestrians are complaining to the newspapers and the local municipals that our zebra-crossings and such are 'only for-show' for the motorists! Those with cars (and motorbikes) over here thinks they own the streets and think much less of those who are walking. And when one Malaysian driver honks at another, the honk is, more often than not, accompanied with a furious and irritated face or a cold stare. Personally, I think Malaysians have a long way before coming to terms with being courteous.

What is a honk for anyway?
1. "Heads up. I'm behind you. Make way" OR
2. "WTF! GET THE Frack outta my way!"