In recent decades, China has transitioned from an inherently agricultural country to an emerging economic titan with a vast transportation network that befits its newly globalized status. Through this fast-paced economic development, the country soon became a nation of drivers. By 2019, the country had 260 million automobiles and 397 million drivers, most of whom were only years from being a novice. In 2019 alone, another 26 million new drivers joined the Chinese roadways. At the same time, China encountered many traffic-related problems: overcrowded urban areas, a deteriorating environment, the chaos of traffic signs, the building boom due to urbanization, and the pressure of traffic management, among others.
Historically, China was never a country adept at traffic and transportation. Despite this, it has been trying to catch up with the world’s pace and to welcome its guests from across the globe. This book zeroes in on the authentic discourses in Chinese traffic by demonstrating the interaction between traffic signs and their users (specifically the new drivers who are unfamiliar with traffic contexts, driving, or the Chinese language). Guangzhou (Canton), a prosperous first-tier city with over 20 million residents, was chosen as the sampling area for this study. The book scrutinizes the city’s traffic signage, its drivers’ experiences, and its traffic authorities’ comments in order to provide a true picture of China, shifting from a country with big traffic to one with modern traffic.
