Starting recently, drivers from up north can drive their passenger cars (up to 100 vehicles per day) into the city proper for 3 days at a time. Just a few weeks have passed and they have uncovered how backward the local traffic laws are and how new technology can be incorporated to driving in the city.
There is a video showing someone driving a robocar on a highway in the city with the automatic driving system turned on, without touching the steering wheel (not sure if the driver's feet touched the gas/brake pedal). The video didn't show whether the vehicle entered the urban area without any intervention from the driver. The transport department stated that it may suspend the vehicle's permit to be driven in the city. So does that mean drivers of such vehicles can turn on the automatic driving system of their cars as long as they don't get caught (or post videos showing their hands off the steering wheel)? Since the applicant have to provide vehicles' make and model during the application process, authorities should know if a vehicle is equipped with automatic driving system and whether it can enter the city. (Or do officials let the vehicle to enter the city knowing that the automatic driving system can be turned on?)
Tinting on a car's windshields and other windows are allowed as long as the percentage visible light transmission rate exceeds a certain percentage. There were no discussion on whether the allowance should be relaxed until drivers from up north can bring their vehicles, many of which have darker-tinted windows, into the city. It turns out that such vehicles only have light transmission rate restrictions on the front windshield but not others. All of the sudden automobile associations and legislators realize the allowance is obsolete and should be relaxed. Perhaps legislators should use this opportunity to review other requirements on vehicles (such as signal lights) to accommodate the vehicles from up north (and, to a lesser extent, local passengers).
Cars travel on the right side of the road up north while they travel on the left in the city. So there are instances of drivers up north driving on the right side of the road (the "wrong" side in the city) while driving here. Perhaps the local government may decree a day to switch to drive on the right to accommodate the drivers up north. (If it sounds extremely radical, it has been done before in a few countries.) While we are at it, simplified Chinese should be incorporated to road signs to avoid complaints from drivers up north. (Wouldn't that make road signs too crowded? The government cares more about those from the north than locals anyways.)
Cars travel on the right side of the road up north while they travel on the left in the city. So there are instances of drivers up north driving on the right side of the road (the "wrong" side in the city) while driving here. Perhaps the local government may decree a day to switch to drive on the right to accommodate the drivers up north. (If it sounds extremely radical, it has been done before in a few countries.) Perhaps the government should have vehicles travel on the right side (with and without quotes) in the new develop areas. While we are at it, simplified Chinese should be incorporated to road signs to avoid complaints from drivers up north. (Wouldn't that make road signs too crowded? The government cares more about those from the north than locals anyways.)
It has been almost 30 years since the city "reunites" with the motherland, so why should our road rules and vehicle regulations remain different from those up north. (Otherwise there may be whispers of locals harbouring "fondness of the colonial times".)