New Car - Old Car?

[Willy The Londoner]

Well our new car has only been on the road less than 5 months now and already it has been into the workshop to have the panel beaters work on the right hand rear passenger door.  We collected it from the workshop two weeks ago. 

And tomorrow it is going back into the workshop to attend to a long and deep dent across the left hand wing and drivers door.  At this rate we will have a completely rebuilt car by this time next year!!!

I can see how she has these accidents as she is oblivious to anything that is not 20 feet in front of her.  Anything behind or overtaking does not come into the frame when she wants to take their lane!!!!

When we get the car back I will be driving whenever I step into that car.  She can do the bumps and scraps in her own time and in her own way.

I can handle Chinese traffic but I am not sure that Chinese traffic can handle my wife.

Willy

[JustJim]

My gal takes left hand turns from the right lane, right hand turns from the left lane, U-turns across four lanes of traffic, and doesn't yield for anyone, all the while using her phone, and laying on the horn, and her car is a few years old with nary a scrape or a dent.


I don't know how she does it...  and yet I felt comfortable (for the most part ) just being the passenger.

[Pineau]

Wont mention names but I know a lady  that will scare the pee out of you. Change lanes without looking and come to a dead stop in the middle of the freeway while she reads the overhead signs. 

 

[Pineau]

I learned a trick from the taxi drivers in Guangzhou that I just love.   I have tried it a few times and it works well. The first time,,, Sitting at a red light, It was rush hour and I was in the right lane but needed to turn left into a driveway. I pulled along side of the car in the left lane and rolled down the window and waved my hand to get their attention. I know they saw me but just looked straight ahead as if to say "no way am I letting you into this lane" So I honked the horn a few times thinking that would get a response. But nothing. Just stared straight ahead. So now I am getting a little annoyed because I know that if I miss that turn I am going to need to go another block and turn around. BIG HASSLE.  So I followed what I remember from the taxi drivers. I cut my wheel hard left and crept forward slowly. I precisely positioned my left fender just a few inches in front of the other car. That's all it takes.  A fender, a bumper or a headlamp. Anything that makes sure that if they proceed they will hit you. Nobody wants to wait for a policeman and fill out a report during rush hour. They just want to get home. Worked fine. They let me in and I proceeded with my left turn.  I know they were steaming mad all the way home but rude to me then I will be rude right back. It used to scare me when the taxi drivers did it but it is pretty benign unless you get a real hothead.

[Willy The Londoner]

Wont mention names but I know a lady  that will scare the pee out of you. Change lanes without looking and come to a dead stop in the middle of the freeway while she reads the overhead signs.

OMG I married a twin?

Willy

[JustJim]

And it is not just the ladies...

Mei's brother in law was the one who drove to pick me up at the airport.   Going home we where on a busy freeway and he was in the left hand lane and almost missed the exit on the right.  No problem, he came to a complete stop, backed up a little and then took a hard right across the three right hand lanes.  Horns were beeping, brakes squealing....  right then was my first introduction to the rules of the road.  Basically, there aren't any, and so everyone has to be more aware of what is going on around them.

In the USA everyone knows the rules, and thus I think people get too relaxed when driving.  I live in a more rural area and I have seen more accidents in the 11 days that I have been back than in the 11 days I was in China. 

[Pineau]

I think a lot of the drivers in China may be illegal and very afraid to mess up. Also no one wants to deal with the police and insurance company. So they are always on the alert for the other guy. 

Observe next time you are there. They drive the streets like they walk the sidewalk.  Really! weaving left and right, look for an opportunity to get ahead and never stay in your lane.  If you ask them, staying in your lane is a missed opportunity and just plain stupid.

[john1964]

my wife changes lanes and then looks if there is another car beside her  John.

[JohnB]

Seeing Jing's eyes when she drives reminds me of 'target fixation'!

[shaun]

MY wife doesn't drive and doesn't want to. 

[Willy The Londoner]

my wife changes lanes and then looks if there is another car beside her  John.

My wife changes lanes and is oblivious as to what is behind her either before or after the manouvre and the same goes for vehicles that are alongside on the left or right.

Willy