An effective driving tactic
Beijingers are not known for their ability to queue – especially when they try to exit or enter a congested freeway. It is not uncommon to patiently wait in line only to have a car (several tens of cars) come up the shoulder and try to butt in.
These obnoxious people think that because they're driving a black Audi A6, other drivers should let them in. After all, they are important people in a hurry. Or they think that because they're driving some shitbox 金北 (Jīn Běi - a brand of full-sized van) or 面包车 (miàn bāo chē - a tall, narrow "breadbox" van), other drivers should let them in, because they are reckless people who have nothing to lose.
Most drivers in the proper lane defend their rights by riding a centimeter or two off the bumper of the car ahead, and they move to cut off the shoulder lane to lock-out the illegal driver. Of course, this rarely works, for the offender sees the centimeter gap as an invitation. Neither player in this game of "chicken" is willing to back off. The result, all traffic slows to a crawl until someone gives way.
Game Theory explains why Beijing traffic is congested. Driving on the shoulder is illegal, but it goes unpunished (unless one is stupid enough to drive past the well-marked traffic cameras). In any given duel, the law-abiding driver has a 50% chance of winning. Meanwhile, the law-abiding driver gets one turn to play before the game is over; the offending driver keeps taking turns until he wins. The net score: the miscreant driver always saves time compared to law-abiding drivers.
Game Theory states that because illegal driving manoeuvers are rewarded, and because two vehicles cannot drive side-by-side on a lane built for one, the traffic must slow to a crawl everywhere.
But I've recently found an effective way change the game. I know how to stop these traffic-disrupting jerks in their tracks.
When a driver sidles up to me looking to butt in, I ride the bumper of the car ahead and close in on the shoulder, as before, but I also lower the passenger power-window, reach for my camera, and take the offender's photograph. (I like to use flash because it adds drama to the moment.)
Not only does the offending vehicle come to a stop, the driver doesn't try to illegally merge until several cars have passed. I assume this is because the offender fears I might snap his plate number, too.
When using my tactics, the (frequently) law-abiding driver with the camera always wins the game. So, if all drivers had cameras, the miscreant drivers would logically correct their illegal behaviour and become exemplary citizens, and traffic would flow at optimal speed.
A caveat: I do not recommend this practice in jurisdictions where drivers are allowed to carry firearms.
An effective driving tactic
Beijingers are not known for their ability to queue – especially when they try to exit or enter a congested freeway. It is not uncommon to patiently wait in line only to have a car (several tens of cars) come up the shoulder and try to butt in.
These obnoxious people think that because they're driving a black Audi A6, other drivers should let them in. After all, they are important people in a hurry. Or they think that because they're driving some shitbox 金北 (Jīn Běi - a brand of full-sized van) or 面包车 (miàn bāo chē - a tall, narrow "breadbox" van), other drivers should let them in, because they are reckless people who have nothing to lose.
Most drivers in the proper lane defend their rights by riding a centimeter or two off the bumper of the car ahead, and they move to cut off the shoulder lane to lock-out the illegal driver. Of course, this rarely works, for the offender sees the centimeter gap as an invitation. Neither player in this game of "chicken" is willing to back off. The result, all traffic slows to a crawl until someone gives way.
Game Theory explains why Beijing traffic is congested. Driving on the shoulder is illegal, but it goes unpunished (unless one is stupid enough to drive past the well-marked traffic cameras). In any given duel, the law-abiding driver has a 50% chance of winning. Meanwhile, the law-abiding driver gets one turn to play before the game is over; the offending driver keeps taking turns until he wins. The net score: the miscreant driver always saves time compared to law-abiding drivers.
Game Theory states that because illegal driving manoeuvers are rewarded, and because two vehicles cannot drive side-by-side on a lane built for one, the traffic must slow to a crawl everywhere.
But I've recently found an effective way change the game. I know how to stop these traffic-disrupting jerks in their tracks.
When a driver sidles up to me looking to butt in, I ride the bumper of the car ahead and close in on the shoulder, as before, but I also lower the passenger power-window, reach for my camera, and take the offender's photograph. (I like to use flash because it adds drama to the moment.)
Not only does the offending vehicle come to a stop, the driver doesn't try to illegally merge until several cars have passed. I assume this is because the offender fears I might snap his plate number, too.
When using my tactics, the (frequently) law-abiding driver with the camera always wins the game. So, if all drivers had cameras, the miscreant drivers would logically correct their illegal behaviour and become exemplary citizens, and traffic would flow at optimal speed.
A caveat: I do not recommend this practice in jurisdictions where drivers are allowed to carry firearms.