Shanghai police set up countdown timers next to traffic lights over the weekend in an attempt to curb drivers from running red lights, a habit that is far too common in the city.
The timers were prompted by a statistical report distributed in January of this year showing that fatalities from drivers’ failing to yield to red lights has risen 300% in the last year.
Shanghai has an enormous pedestrian and bicycle population with traffic officers citing pedestrians for walking against the light during hours of congestion in the busiest intersections. Being American, I was raised with the idea that the pedestrian got the right of way, always. And it makes sense to me. Pedestrians are more likely to be hurt and are therefore less likely to cut off a car by walking in front of it (at least that’s the way it is back home). But, in Shanghai, it seems the rules are quite opposite. We do a lot of walking and we take a lot of taxis. Everybody believes they have the right of way. The cars have the right of way, the pedestrians have the right of way, the scooters and bicycles have the right of way. There seems, to my Western mind, no system to the madness. I walk when everyone around me walks, a regular sheep in the herd… and I live to walk another day.
I cannot describe the chaos of the roads but am grateful that the municipal government is willing to recognize that something needs to change. Until I see rules of right-of-way being enforced and abided by, by the drivers, the walkers, and the bicyclists I’m going to stick to my comfortable ride with my friendly neighborhood taxi driver. These taxi drivers are some of the best drivers in the world, and though the ride may be scary at times, I am always confident that my driver will get me safely to my destination.
Police admit that more needs to be done but assure us that they have already seen an obvious reduction in the number of drivers running red lights at the four trial intersections and believe that this trial is proving itself effective. The intersections, Huaihau and Danshui, Jinling and Chongqing, Jiangning and Changping as well as Changshou and Changhua roads have also been equipped with traffic cameras and more cameras have been set up throughout the city.
It’s a great start and I applaud the effort. I like that the countdown screens for drivers are up by the light and large enough to get drivers’ attention. Shanghai is a wealthy city and I believe these timers are worth the cost with the support of police enforcement. Something had to be done. Now, let’s train the rest of the city how to drive in cooperation rather than in competition.
