Nanjing’s traffic police don’t mince their words. As figures emerge showing an impressive 90 percent of e-bike riders in the city obey the new helmet law, traffic authorities are now calling out pedestrians, resolutely describing them as “uncivilised”.
Yesterday, 5 August, saw Nanjing hold a special press conference on the “Special Rectification of Traffic Order in a Civilised City”. Therein, it was revealed that e-bike riders in Nanjing have adopted the new mandatory helmet-wearing law to the tune of 90 percent.
The riders are to be commended. Back when the law came into effect on 1 June, only 30 percent of e-biker riders nationally were wearing helmets. With over a quarter of a billion e-bikes registered in China, the law created an entire new industry, one thought to be worth ¥10 billion.
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Yesterday’s press conference noted that the remaining 10 percent in Nanjing not wearing helmets are those who also manage to avoid the intersections in the city where there is neither a police presence, nor a volunteer on duty to persuade them to follow the regulations.
A reporter from the Yangtze Evening News learned that in the first half of this year, Nanjing saw 72 accidents involving e-bikes running red lights, leading to injury and eight deaths. There were also 31 accidents resulting from e-bikers riding in the opposing lane, leading to two deaths.
On two feet, pedestrians violating laws in Nanjing caused 24 accidents, leading to injury and seven deaths.
Nanjing Traffic Police appealed to the general public to abandon bad habits and become “civilised pedestrians”. Specifically, they call on people to not cross streets when the lights are red and not to cross roads indiscriminately.
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The traffic authorities also reserved special mention for Nanjing’s drivers, calling on them to give up their disorderly parking of motor vehicles and other bad driving habits.
It was noted during the press conference that many motor vehicles still do not show courtesy to pedestrians, especially at crossings where there are no pedestrian control lights, where drivers are required to do so.
It is this last point that has many out-of-towners rather perplexed. In most other cities in China, drivers display great courtesy to pedestrians, staying well clear of crossings in use. When Nanjing’s traffic police speak of improving “the sense of urban civilisation”, it is the belligerent driving habits of many a Nanjinger that they have in mind.
