By Karen W Lim

Getting run over by a vehicle while cycling, colliding with another car when driving, and being mowed down by a van seem to be common scenarios on the roads of China.

Based on footage from closed-circuit television cameras placed at intersections, cars crossing the junction seem to be playing a game of bumper car or human bowling.

The online video which was uploaded onto YouTube shows a compilation of different scenes dating back to 2006, all showing how complacent or nonchalant Chinese motorists are when driving in their own country.

Although the location is unknown, the footage clearly shows a certain blase attitude among drivers.

Traffic lights are not seen at the intersections, an indication that the areas featured in the video are not busy or major roads, but smaller roads in the neighbourhood. The vehicles do not seem to be travelling at high speeds as well, so the cause of these accidents become even more questionable.

The techniques of Chinese drivers have recently been questioned since an accident on May 12 involving a Ferrari driven by a Chinese national, a ComfortDelGro cab and a motorcyclist left three dead and two injured at an intersection at Bugis in Singapore.

On April 3, a woman died after she was hit by an SBS Transit bus and dragged under for nearly half a minute. She was crossing the road at an intersection when the bus was making a turn. The driver of the bus is from China.

A letter to The New Paper on May 18 called for stricter tests for foreign drivers in Singapore, as "there are differences they need to note, such as our low speed limits, English signage, unique signs and so on".

"Should drivers from countries that use left-hand drive be required to spend some time under supervision before they are allowed on the road?" questioned reader Ace Kindred Cheong.

While Singaporeans are concerned with hazardous foreign drivers on their roads, mainland Chinese are calling for more soul-searching to be done as they berate their fellow citizens for ignoring victims in need, as seen in the 2011 case of a two-year-old toddler who was run over twice and ignored by at least 18 passers-by.

There have also been multiple reports in the recent year on attempts to cover-up traffic accidents by killing the victims.

If these incidents are not handled properly back home, similar situations might occur elsewhere as the Chinese start migrating out of China - people being knocked down and 'bumper car' games are not situations anyone wants in any country.

klim@sph.com.sg

Click on thumbnail to view. Story continues after photos. (Photos: YouTube)

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