Freeway Driving in China

Over the last few days I have spent more than a few hours on the freeways of China. Chinese freeways are built pretty much to the standards of American freeways. The look is very familiar. But don't be fooled by the look of the road. We have all driven on a relatively busy freeway where traffic is moving about the speed limit, but there is one guy swerving from lane to lane doing 80.

OK. On Chinese freeways everyone is that guy swerving from lane to lane, trying to pass everyone else. Except for two very timid drivers who are always in the fast lane. And a few (or sometimes more than a few) trucks, who are swerving from lane to lane, but are simply not able to go 80. Say maybe 15.

Need to exit the freeway? That is generally done from the fast lane. Not sure which exit? Simply stop at the point of the gore and study the signs. It's the best viewing angle on the signs, and there is no need to worry that you are blocking two lanes.

One truck passing another? If the passer hasn't caught up with the passee, you can run up the right lane and switch to the left lane between the two trucks. Easy. Best done at a relative speed of at least 50 km/h.

Now add in a micro van from time to time. These miniature, underpowered, vehicles look like a 15 passenger van shrunk to half size. They are so underpowered that they are not allowed on freeways. Just that no one told the drivers. ALL drivers in China give these things a wide berth. No one wants their car to be anywhere that a micro van can hit them no matter which way the van goes, because there is absolutely no way to predict. I've been in a car that went from 120 km/h to 25 km/h just to pass one of these things on the freeway. Straight road, no other vehicles in sight. They demand respect! Breakdown? No need to pull to the side of the road. Stop in whatever lane you are in and pop the hood. Stand in front of the car so you can't see oncoming traffic. Might scare you. (Should scare you.) Oh, by the way, the freeways are clean. Thanks to the nice ladies that sweep them. Yes, in the lane with traffic. But they have safety equipment. Those faded orange vests give them Kings X, I'm pretty sure.