Signs, Road Markings Added to 104 Intersections to Prevent Large Truck Accidents

Beijing traffic police and transportation authorities have put up new signage and road dividers at 104 busy intersections around Beijing requiring medium and large-sized trucks to come to a complete stop before executing a right turn, according to a post by the Beijing Traffic Police WeChat account (北京交警).

Once stopped, drivers are required to carefully survey the street for pedestrians before executing a right turn, in order to guarantee pedestrian safety.

The new rules are for good reason. According to statistics published by Beijing transportation authorities, 86 percent of accidents in the capital involving large trucks took place when the vehicles were executing a right turn. This highlights the pressing need for drivers to exercise caution and follow traffic regulations, especially when navigating turns.

Large trucks frequently get into accidents when making right turns due to the multiple blind spots that drivers face while turning. These blind spots pose a significant safety risk.

On the evening of Apr 24, 2022, an e-bike rider lost their life, and another sustained injuries when a large truck made a right turn at the intersection of Tongshun Road and Luyuan North Street in Tongzhou District. The truck driver failed to notice the e-bike rider, who was passing through the green light. Consequently, the right front part of the truck scraped the e-bike and flipped it over. 

To prevent such unfortunate incidents from happening in the future, transportation authorities have taken several precautionary measures. They have installed signs specifically for medium and large trucks making right turns, instructing them to stop and give way to pedestrians. Additionally, in areas where right turns are more prone to accidents, road markings have been added to alert truck drivers to exercise extra caution while turning. Furthermore, pedestrians and cyclists are reminded not to linger in these newly demarcated areas for too long.

Traffic police have been stationed at these intersections in order to enforce the new rules. Drivers who fail to comply with the law will be fined RMB 100 and will have points deducted from their license. Plus, monitoring equipment has been installed at 42 intersections to ensure that medium and large trucks comply with regulations by stopping and giving way while turning right.

The city has also called for the installation of safety equipment on large trucks. This equipment enables drivers to track the vehicle's specific conditions through the display screen in the car. In case of a person's proximity within a 1.5-meter radius of the right front corner, the driver will receive an audio warning both inside and outside the vehicle. This feature is designed to raise awareness about safety with both the driver and nearby individuals and to minimize the likelihood of traffic accidents.

To prevent accidents during right turns made by trucks, Beijing traffic police have reminded pedestrians to avoid distractions while cycling or walking. Additionally, they are advised to pay attention to motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles while passing the intersection and to be vigilant of the traffic around them for their own safety.

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Images: 北京交警, Unsplash