The insane reason why Chinese drivers intentionally kill the pedestrians they hit
This is a perfect example of how it is more economical to kill a human than injure them.
However, this horrific phenomenon creates a society where human life is disposable. Oftentimes drivers make sure the person they've hit is dead by running over them multiple times, even if the pedestrian was initially only slightly injured.
According to the article, only a handful of people have been charged for murder, but even then it's a light sentence that doesn't necessarily show a significant effect on behavioral changes when it comes to pedestrian accidents. The increase in technologies such as security cameras have been helpful in proving the intentional killing of the pedestrian, but these cases are few.
With an increase in population in cities and the variety of transportation options, pedestrians are quite vulnerable, especially in larger cities. This brings up a thought on pedestrian fatality based on other factors as well, including income. It also brings up discussion on drivers' inherent racial bias when it comes to waiting time at intersections. What other factors could have caused these fatalities in China and do we see parallels in the United States? If so, to what extent? What factors, including policy changes, could potentially prevent these fatalities?
Regardless, human behavior and economic policies have a relationship that desperately needs to be further explored, in regards to transportation planning.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-drivers-kill-pedestrians-intentionally-2015-9#ixzz3lIw8z1lM
-Bridget Guiza
Above all, this provides a good argument for getting more than the minimum auto liability insurance required by law. With that slightly tongue-in-cheek comment aside, I think aspects of global culture/economics are often put on a pedestal as a poster for something - in this case - an outrageous incentive to behavior. In truth though, similar incentives exist in the United States for all kinds of abhorrent acts - including this exact scenario. The Chinese are not alone in this.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, as it would never happen in the US. Law enforcement is weak over there, people are not held accountable for their crimes. As a developing country, it is possibly expected. In countries that are in worse shape, like Syria, killing someone while driving is something not surprising. Transportation issues are a social factor as well, besides an engineering one.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, as it would never happen in the US. Law enforcement is weak over there, people are not held accountable for their crimes. As a developing country, it is possibly expected. In countries that are in worse shape, like Syria, killing someone while driving is something not surprising. Transportation issues are a social factor as well, besides an engineering one.
ReplyDelete