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Letters and Blogs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-17 08:04 'Bu rang' isn't right! The Chinese word for "yield" is "rang", as in "yield the right of way" (or as the British put it "give way"). I've pondered over this word lately because I'm celebrating my first anniversary of driving in China. Although I first came to China two decades ago and have lived here off and on for many years, it was only last year that I bought a car and started driving in Beijing. And I've come to the conclusion that one can learn a lot about China by driving here. For example, I've learned that while there is an extensive body of traffic regulations governing the operation of motor vehicles in China, these regulations aren't also followed very closely. That's not too surprising, nor is it terribly different from other countries. But this concept of rang - or the lack thereof - seems to be particularly prevalent on China's roads and byways. According to local traffic regulations in Beijing, drivers are required to rang at certain specific situations to other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. For example, a driver wishing to turn right at an intersection with a red light must first stop, then yield to pedestrians crossing in front of his car and yield again to traffic moving from his left to right before merging. This traffic regulation makes a lot of sense and is extremely important for preventing accidents. Unfortunately, however, it seems to be honored more in the breach than in the observance. Pedestrians crossing the street in front of a non-yielding car may falsely assume that they can safely cross the street with a green light. The failure to stop and yield by drivers in this scenario has undoubtedly caused countless pedestrian injuries and deaths in China. Moreover, the failure to yield before a right hand turn merging into traffic is also a frequent cause of vehicular accidents and substantial property damage. Just the other day, I saw the tragic result of a small car's failure to yield while turning right at an intersection. An oncoming bus had smashed into it, collapsing the car's entire left side. The immobilized bus and crumpled vehicle backed up traffic for several kilometers. Alas, this is not an isolated incident on Beijing's roads. In modern society's quest to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, frenetically pursuing our own agenda with little regard for others, we could all do well to do more rang. When we as drivers yield where we should on the roads, we ensure the safety of others and the orderly flow of traffic. When we yield to others - on the roads and in life - we practice some common courtesy that our modern society is in danger of losing. If we fail to rang, well, that just isn't right. Cole R. Capener, Beijing via-email Make the ads fall in line It is reported that in order to regulate and develop the advertising business and protect the legal rights of civilians, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television issued a regulation on advertisements on radio and TV. According to the regulation, it is forbidden to broadcast seven kinds of advertisements related to deliberately using wrong characters, distorting idioms, name analyzing, and so forth. I proclaim aloud this new regulation, because it embodies the people-centered principle of management. Advertising is a special industry with huge influence on people's consumption. If we continue acquiescence in the matter of unhealthy advertisements misleading our consumers, the people would be harmed. We should not develop advertising industry at the price of people's heath. How the regulation is implemented is critical for keeping the advertising business in order. In fact, we do not lack specific regulations on advertisements management. But the media always find ways to circumvent all kinds of regulations and line their pockets by broadcasting undesirable advertisements. So, we hope the authorities would effectively enforce this regulation and serve as a responsible guardian of citizens' interests. Liu Dongming via e-mail (China Daily 09/17/2009 page8) |
