Jim Simpson: Controlled Chaos

One of the most fascinating things about riding around in Beijing traffic is how they drive. In a culture that demands structure and efficiency and common courtesy is beyond expected, but rather part of its DNA, is how few rules and how little structure there seems to be for drivers. With a population north of 20 million, suffice it to say there is plenty of traffic.  Tailgating, horn honking, not using turn signals and cutting people off is as common as seeing a UNC tee shirt in Chapel Hill. Yet I’ve seen no accidents, no one yelling at other drivers (or worse), and honking of the horn is done more of a courtesy as opposed to an angry reaction from another driver (update:  Honking your horn is not always a courtesy). I can only imagine how many accidents there would be in America if the intersections were as uncontrolled as they are in China. It is truly controlled chaos and what seems to be an anathema to an otherwise highly structured culture.