First impressions of driving in China seem, to put it mildly, unusual. The absence of turn signals when overtaking, changing lanes, or turning is just the most noticeable element of a much more complex picture.
For a driver with even a little experience, driving in Chinese cities gives the impression of complete disorganization. The flow looks chaotic: road users act as they see fit, constantly strive to move forward, and use every opportunity to maneuver. Cars merge into the flow, overtake, and cut in without hesitation, and a non-activated turn signal seems to be the least significant problem against this background.
At the same time, it cannot be argued that the rules are completely ignored. Rather, it is a different attitude towards them: formal restrictions and procedures are perceived flexibly. Crossing a solid line when overtaking or ignoring a pedestrian at a crosswalk (if the traffic light is green) is not perceived as something exceptional.
Behavior on the road is based on two unspoken principles:
- attitude to the status of other road users: a driver can safely cut off a simpler car, will try not to give way to a car of equal level, but avoids maneuvers in front of expensive or rare models
- ignoring formalities: parking on sidewalks or crosswalks is considered acceptable if it does not create obvious obstacles, while the requirements for placing the car along the curb are observed quite strictly
Despite frequent violations, local drivers can only conditionally be called outright daredevils. Paradoxically, the number of incidents, including minor ones, remains relatively low. This means that the boundary of acceptable behavior is still felt and rarely crossed.
Scooters and motorcycles play a special role in the traffic flow. They are the ones that most often create difficulties for pedestrians crossing the road on a green light, suddenly cutting into their trajectory.
There is also another characteristic feature: in the event of a dispute, responsibility is usually assigned to both parties. The police, who are present on the streets in large numbers, adhere to a similar position. At the same time, there is no active interference in the movement - the system relies on infrastructure:
- road signs and traffic lights
- an extensive network of surveillance cameras
- selective stops and fines without total control of each violation
The use of turn signals deserves special attention. Even when formally necessary, they are often ignored. The reason is that in dense traffic, visual signals are considered ineffective.
Instead, drivers actively use sound signals. The horn performs several functions at once:
- warns of the intention to maneuver
- attracts the attention of surrounding road users
- replaces the turn signal in dense traffic
At the same time, the widespread habit of honking creates a constant noise background. The movement is accompanied by a continuous cacophony of sounds, to which unfamiliar drivers, especially Europeans, do not adapt immediately.
Interestingly, over time, foreigners begin to adopt the local driving style. According to drivers who have lived in China for several months, even the most disciplined road users gradually adapt and begin to behave like locals.