China:Terrified cyclists, traumatised pedestrians and other worried road users in China should soon be able to breathe a little easier after traffic authorities said they would make it harder to pass the driving test as part of an attempt to cut the alarming number of road deaths.
More than 1,000 people die on China's roads every day and even a cursory glance at the way people drive on the streets shows how the tally adds up.
Drivers ignore pedestrians for the most part and beep their horns at anyone cheeky enough to cross at a pedestrian crossing when the pedestrian light is green.
Cycle lanes generally function as slip roads for overtaking on the inside, while no one pays any heed when entering the stream of traffic from a side road. People casually reverse on to the dual carriageway if they miss an exit. It seems like anything goes on the streets and driving is a nerve-wracking experience.
In Beijing, there are more than 1,000 new cars every day on the streets and negligence on the roads is turning into a potential disaster.With car ownership booming, the majority of drivers learned to drive in the last five years - imagine over half the roads in Ireland populated by drivers aged 17-22 and you get the picture.
From now on learners need to pass at least 10 out of 13 practical tests, which include changing lanes, crossing intersections and night driving, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
"They will be evaluated on stricter and more specific criteria," a spokesman told the Xinhua news agency.
Applicants will also be tested on real roads with a single-way traffic flow of at least 60 cars per hour, while learners who live in mountainous areas will take additional tests on roads with tunnels and steep slopes.
"The new test will emphasise safety awareness. This will be considered more important than the driving skills alone," said the ministry.
China recorded 378,781 traffic accidents in 2006, with 89,455 deaths, according to ministry data.