The driving laws in China..or lack thereof

In Boulder we have this cute saying that pedestrians are God. However, in China pedestrians are almost equivalent to squirrels...if you hit one you feel bad but keep on driving. Not only do you have to look out for cars while crossing the street but you also have to watch out for bikes, scooters, street vendors, buses, and mobs of people. I am sure you can imagine just how scary it can be. I would best compare crossing the street in Beijing to the game Frogger...except you don't get five lives or any reward for making it safely.

One of the hardest driving laws to get use to here is that there is no stop on red when turning right. Actually there doesn't seem to be much stopping at any lights now that I think about it. U-turns are also legal anywhere and everywhere. We were told we should buy a bike here but seeing as I put my life on the line just walking I can't imagine biking. I'm too scared to even bike in Boulder!

As dangerous as it must sound there is a constant saver..honking. People honk 24/7. They honk even if you aren't in the way. Half the time it is annoying and the other half the time I am thankful for giving me the heads up that they are about to run me over. I've noticed the cab drivers don't believe in holding their hands at 10 and 2 but instead on the horn.

The crazy part of this all is that I have yet to see one accident or anyone get run over. I guess they are just so use to it. Definitely makes any bad day on I-75 look serene. I actually have grown to like crossing the street because it is like a game. Score 200 points for not getting my foot run over! Another 300 for making it across! It also helps me wake up in the morning for my dreadful 8 am's.

I have yet to take any good pictures of the insanity but when I do I will be sure to upload them..or maybe a video so you can really get a feel for it. Till then I will continue to thank my lucky stars every night that I have survived another day not sprawled out on someone's windshield!

Love you all and please drive safe!!

Lauren
柯若兰