Comments on Liu Shinan's column "Drivers need road tests and manners" (China Daily, January 24, 2007)

Road accidents are both an economic and social problem, hindering social and economic development. China having one of the most alarming road accident situations in the region will face a very bitter future with an unnecessarily high road death toll if it continues to hesitate to act.

Road accidents are not an inevitable cost of the increasing motorization. Most of the road trauma can be prevented with thorough and scientific planning and cooperation between the authorities and other stakeholders.

The most successful measures are well known. You only need to apply them with the necessary adjustment to local needs.

Provisional driving licenses should be issued to young and novice drivers after passing theory and driving tests. Statistics show that in the first one to three years after obtaining a driving license, new drivers tend to bring a much higher risk with them into the traffic than later on when they have accumulated more driving experience. The aim here is for the authorities to be able to apply stricter rules for these new drivers for example lower speed limits and a lower blood alcohol limit.

After the provisional period expires, their driving licenses will turn into normal driving licenses, identical to those of other experienced drivers. This is the case in European countries.

Problem solving starts with raising awareness among the public, therefore I highly value every article on this subject. I would like to encourage the author to present more articles like this.

Peter

Via e-mail

Yes, indeed Mr Liu is correct. This lack of respect for pedestrians has to be recognized for what it truly is. Bad manners.

Those that can afford an automobile imagine that the roads belong to them alone. It is like a new breed of emperors, they have no respect for those walking.

Horn blowing to move mothers with babies out of our way, older citizens risking their lives to cross streets. Left turns on red lights have made many areas unsafe to cross. Drivers don't use their seat belts.

What is needed is a study of streetlight placement and a traffic system with police oversight.

Anonymous

On China Daily website

I wish to thank Mr Liu for this column on driving.

Many citizens that have gone to the US and Europe know that watching some newcomers from China drive has become an embarrassment.

They often bring the same bad manners with them. People say when seeing Chinese drivers, sounding their horns, and driving recklessly, they have not learned to respect others on the road yet.

Anonymous

On China Daily website

(China Daily 02/02/2007 page11)