Living
Traffic Accidents
In 2006, more than 9,000 car accidents were reported in Shanghai. Surprisingly, serious traffic accidents around the city are not as common as you might expect, although close calls seem to occur every second.
In the case of an accident, you should call the police at 110, and state your location; a traffic officer should arrive within 10 minutes. If one party takes responsibility, then you should both clear the road as soon as possible. If it’s a small bump people tend to settle matters on the spot to avoid the hassle of paperwork. After some haggling, a few scratches can be settled for around ¥300. If it’s a bigger dispute, then it’s best to call the police, especially if there is potential for future insurance claims. Make sure you mark the positioning of the cars and, if you have a camera, use it to snap some photos of the scene before you move your car out of the way of traffic. It’s not uncommon for people to feign injuries, so be prepared to argue.
If you are involved in a serious traffic accident, remain calm. Dial the police at 110, and if someone is injured, make sure you call an ambulance at 120. Keep the accident scene as preserved as possible. Any witnesses should also remain at the scene so they can recount the accident to police. Always keep the car’s registration information, any certifications, and insurance in the vehicle.
By law, the driver is always held accountable in an accident involving a pedestrian, even if the pedestrian was in the wrong, and in the cases where it is clearly the driver’s fault, the penalties will be much higher. Most penalties in an accident scenario are monetary and even a severe accident scenario does not mean jail time.
Just like friendly Shanghainese chatter often sounds like a screaming match, angry outbursts are a part of the local driving demeanour and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Don’t give in to road rage, and take the yelling and honking with a pinch of salt.
A driver’s level of traffic offences are monitored through a points system. Every driver has 12 points, and every traffic offence results in a loss of points as well as a fine. Points are renewed at the end of each year, but losing all 12 points within a year will result in a suspension of your licence.
In the case of an accident, you should call the police at 110, and state your location; a traffic officer should arrive within 10 minutes. If one party takes responsibility, then you should both clear the road as soon as possible. If it’s a small bump people tend to settle matters on the spot to avoid the hassle of paperwork. After some haggling, a few scratches can be settled for around ¥300. If it’s a bigger dispute, then it’s best to call the police, especially if there is potential for future insurance claims. Make sure you mark the positioning of the cars and, if you have a camera, use it to snap some photos of the scene before you move your car out of the way of traffic. It’s not uncommon for people to feign injuries, so be prepared to argue.
If you are involved in a serious traffic accident, remain calm. Dial the police at 110, and if someone is injured, make sure you call an ambulance at 120. Keep the accident scene as preserved as possible. Any witnesses should also remain at the scene so they can recount the accident to police. Always keep the car’s registration information, any certifications, and insurance in the vehicle.
By law, the driver is always held accountable in an accident involving a pedestrian, even if the pedestrian was in the wrong, and in the cases where it is clearly the driver’s fault, the penalties will be much higher. Most penalties in an accident scenario are monetary and even a severe accident scenario does not mean jail time.
Just like friendly Shanghainese chatter often sounds like a screaming match, angry outbursts are a part of the local driving demeanour and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Don’t give in to road rage, and take the yelling and honking with a pinch of salt.
A driver’s level of traffic offences are monitored through a points system. Every driver has 12 points, and every traffic offence results in a loss of points as well as a fine. Points are renewed at the end of each year, but losing all 12 points within a year will result in a suspension of your licence.
