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Roads!!! Organized or Not?!

China is the biggest country in the world, holding 1.3 Billion people almost a 7th of the world's population. Within certain provences and cities in China the population can stand at millions.

Imagine that in China, to the outside world their traffic on the roads is like constant rush hour to us.  In Beijing there is just over 22 million people, imagine that if each person drove a car, how safe or busy would these roads be?

The roads in China are constantly busy, but you rarely hear of an accident. Is this due to being organised or not; but what if it were both?! The roads are an organised mess. The roads have had such lenient rules for so long that it is just a way of life. But what if these rules were enhanced, would it stop accidents from happening? if there were any...

Have you ever walked on a Chinese road? or tried to cross a really big intersection?

I have and the rule is just keep going!!!! Don't stop! Just look around for moving objects and keep moving, because as you are walking the cars, bikes and buses tend to move around you. If you stop I would say as a pedestrian you are more than likely to be in an accident; but being a driver I would really like to know what goes through their minds.

Like are they scared that someone may get knocked over?!

In China it doesn't seem that there is ever a red light where all traffic stand still; there are always cars on the move even when its a green light for a pedestrian. Or better yet a vehicle stopping in the middle of the road and doing a 3 point turn because its going in the wrong direction; or reversing back onto a highway because you took the wrong exit; or simply just overtaking a car and playing chicken with other road users. So how is it that you rarely hear about accidents on the road?

Just the other day a few of my friends and I were questioning others are there ever any accidents... and why aren't the accidents getting published or not known about. A friend of mine was on a bus in Beijing when it ran over a person.

Recently, there was a accident in the Shangdong Provance involving a bus, and this was caught on camera, and in front of a police car. There is some video footage which contains up to 108 accidents throughout China,which has been captured by cameras. Some of which could have been prevented, if both road users observed the road properly.

108 captured road accidents: click like to view the viedo.
Warning: Does contain some graphic images

If the rules for the road were changed for China it has to be changed as soon as possible. Extra things should be enhanced such as people on bikes have to wear proper protective clothing and wear bright fluorescent colours so they stand out even on the darkest of days and nights.

Have the traffic flow more controlled, don't let the traffic flow to continue just for turning right. This would allow pedestrians to feel safer crossing the roads and not having to dodge traffic. Are there any speed restrictions? If not, have peek time restrictions?

There are ways to prevent this, rather than just saying a change needs to happen, it needs to be enforced to make the roads safer for both road users and pedestrians.

What if?!

Introduction of live traffic streaming?!

• WHAT IF there were possible ways of notifing people of traffic and accidents!?

• WHAT IF there was live streaming of traffic congestion and accidents. (Not saying you would want to see an accident).

• WHAT IF web cams, satelites or cameras are set around the most used junctions or even in the central ring road, where congestion is at its highest.

This thought has already been implemented in a few countries why not try it here?

If it reduces your travel times, why not. At least in this aspect you can see how back the traffic is at that partiuclar spot. So by interacting with this live live traffic stream it could save you hours from sitting in traffic, and allow you to take an alternative route.

Could It Help?

Would It Work?

I say yes, simply because if you are aware that there is bad traffic congestion you would try and avoid the area as much as possible!

What are your views?