I come out here a couple of times a year for work; usually 10-14 day trips. It amazes me how "different" things are here on the roads. I'll use this thread to document the crazy shit I've seen. After trying everything, I'll have to wait until I get back to the states to post pics or video links because it's so difficult to get around the internet rules here.

For starters, here are some of the topics;
1. There is no fast lane - Multiple lane highways are plagued with traffic jams because of the sheer volume, and because there are no rules on what lane to drive in. You can be moving at 120 kph in the left lane and come up on someone doing 60. The same and opposite goes for any other lane as well. It's amazing that you have to continuously move from lane to lane to get anywhere.
2. Lanes - In traffic jams, there are no real lanes. Those white lines are optional and I've seen many times where 6 rows of cars take up the space that four lanes are marked for.
3. Vehicles - Roads are occupied by everything; bicycles, mopeds, scooters, tractors, cars, trucks and anything else on wheels.
4. Parking - Wherever there is room. It doesn't matter where you park as long as you pay.
5. VIP - Everyone wants to be a VIP. You'll see it on cars, in parking spots, on buildings and even clothing. The VIP logo can be had on everything from Skoda to Maseratti and without it you just suck.
Keep in mind the level of ridiculousness varies from city to suburb. I'll try to list the what's and where's as we go.

 

I'll be interested to see the pictures.
I know India was nuts when I was there, the rules are just sort of guidelines that people may choose to follow or not.
And the horn is a way of life, it usually means look out here I come.

 

I visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen for 3 day back in 2011. Got a couple of taxi rides in Guangzhou, and those were some of my craziest rides ever.

 

Wife said India is like this too....My Brother is in Hong Kong now and sees this....Entire 6 people families on mopeds, its nuts.

 

Driving in Hong Kong isn't as bad as China/India, although its still a lot more worse than US.

Mongkok(HK):



Hangzhou(China):

 

I was able to get a few pictures pulled. My phone pics in Order:
1. The recycling Truck.
2. The Appliance delivery truck.
3. The sports car.
4. The family car.
5. The minivan

 

Depends on what part of india

Driving in Delhi is very nice. They follow lanes and they follow traffic signals . No one honks horn. The tollway from Delhi to Agra is amazing to visit Taj Mahal . Stay at oberei agra if you visit one of the most stunning properties in the world

If you want to see worse than China go to Dhaka . Bangladesh is the craziest driving place in the world . I love it when I go there

 

Yeah, we don't have a fast lane in the US either. It's the strangest thing, if a highway is posted as a 65 mph limit, that applies to all the lanes from right to left, left to right, and all lanes in between.

What country are you from where different lanes on a highway have different speed limits?

 

I'm from the country of New Jersey and what you see here in China is nothing compared to the worst roads in the US. Although I've only traveled through 38 states, so you might be right

 

Guessing he meant:

Left = Passing Lane
Center = Travel Lanes
Right = Slow Lane

and not necessarily different speed limits by lane

 

The idea that there is a "fast lane" on highway is the number one producer of road rage.

 

This

 

Agreed! And that people use the left lane as a travel lane and don't use it as a passing lane.

 

But what you won't find is someone in the left doing 30mph, someone in the middle doing 100, and someone on the right doing 70...alternating with every car pass

 

Passing lane, fast lane, whatever you want to call it, it exists. There are signs that say slower traffic keep right and for road rage, yes it is a producer because of slow people in the passing lane.

 

Slow and fast are matters of opinion. If you aren't actively passing someone, move over.

 

Pakistan is the worst I've seen (Islamabad).

 

Just keep passing to the left until the oncoming vehicle is larger than what you are driving!

 

Are you done now?

 

Hahaha The guy from Boston is discussing good driving skills!

 

Well said

 

I'm sure China is a lot worse than Taiwan, but I was in Taiwan a couple months ago (my home country, first time there in over 25 years) and OMG, the smog was soooooo bad. I can NEVER live there. I actually had to wear those disposable masks And this is coming from someone that used to live in Los Angeles (which has cleaned up quite a bit over the years)

 

I was in Taiwan this year as well. The city I am in this week is worse on the pollution side. Seems like many are wearing the masks. Nothing worse then blowing your nose and seeing mud at the end of the day

 

Driving skills are not the issue in Boston or at least not what the preceding reputation is for. It's for being rude or not courteous (ie - Masshole). Traveling for work, I have driven all over the US and there are places where driving skills CAN be questioned.

 

Dude,
This thread has nothing to do with your interpretation of the driving rules in the US. If you haven't noticed, it's about China. I don't go in and shit all over your threads, and I'd appreciate it if you don't here. Once I'm back in the states, I'll post videos about what goes on here, and you'll have a better understanding of what I'm talking about.

 

Easy! Easy! No one is "shitting all over your threads" in fact you agreed with me in your post #12 above. Then in post #9, you said you were from NJ????
How do you see me interpreting driving rules in the US?
Others have mention drivers in countries other than "China"
So maybe this won't be considered shitting on this thread - I have also driven in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The worst driving I have personally seen is in Bangkok and the pollution was unbelievable.

 

OOPS. Sorry man, thought it was Black label again. How do I delete that post??? really sorry

 

No worries, I was just really confused by your response.

You can edit and/delete your posts for 15 mins after submitting them.

 

that's saying a lot. I was on the GSP last week and JHC I am so glad I moved out of central Joisey.

 

Moved to Car Talk where it's a bit more regulated than Ramblings. Ramblings is pretty much where threads go to get shit on...

 

 

Thank you

 

Everything you said is true. But what you are describing is basically not just China. All Asian countries share similar characteristics when it comes to driving.

Everyone's commute in Asia is basically what you do at Autocross in the US but at 20mph.

scooters in Taiwan are like flies, you are constantly being surrounded by them and they will cut you off like you don't even exist.

 

OMG! Soooooo true. A few times I was so annoyed I raised my elbow up as in: "you come any closer you're going to get an elbow in yo face" I know it's kinda an asshole thing to do but seriously, those people don't care about pedestrians at all

 

what Pedestrians?

#1 rule living or visiting any Asian country

Do not assume you have the right away, because you really do not. and cars will not stop for you.

#2, just because you are using the crosswalk to cross the street even with the green walking sign, it does not mean cars will not run you over, always watch your surroundings.

 

Remind me of driving in Tijuana. Any and all traffic signs/signals are nothing more than mere suggestions

 

apply the same observation in Asia, you will blend in just fine

 

China is bad. Somalia is the worst.

 

My buddy from Taiwan was hit by a bus while on his scooter. Luckily he wasn't too seriously injured, but the stories he tells me about the driving there seem very very bad.

Have you been to Somalia? I'd like to hear your experiences if you don't mind sharing.

 

Hmm. When I was in Taiwan for work (1 week in Chung Li, Zhong Li, whatever) I saw the exact opposite. One of our employees who was born and lives in Taipei was explaining to me that when it comes to a traffic incident, the right of way means much less than the ability to avoid the accident. If you can avoid the accident and you don't, you are at fault. I saw numerous occasions where people would just walk out into the street and cars would slam on their brakes for them to cross. The same thing would happen for people needing to turn left too.

My experience there is very limited, but I find it odd that the guy who has lived there for 30+ years says the exact opposite (about Taiwan).