It's all right to make drivers see the light

Police officers hold the buckets stuck with road safety slogans.[Photo from Sina Weibo]

SHENZHEN MUNICIPAL traffic police began a campaign to promote proper high beam usage on Nov 1 in the South China city. The action is aimed at curbing drivers' misuse of the high beam, which can cause accidents. In addition to a fine of 300 yuan ($45) and a 1 point penalty, the traffic police also ask the driver to sit in a green chair for one minute to experience for themselves the effects it has on an oncoming driver. Beijing Times commented on Thursday:

The Shenzhen traffic police are not the first to ask drivers to experience what happens when looking into headlights on high beam. However, in many other places it has caused controversy. Supporters believe that it improves road safety, while opponents say it might damage a person's vision and it exceeds the requirements for law enforcement.

Judgment should be based on the law and the basic facts and specific circumstances. The relevant laws and regulations do not include such a punishment, but the Shenzhen police have said that it is not mandatory, which means that this is essentially a flexible educational means, rather than rigid punishment.

Criticism of looking into a high beam, in a sense is actually a narrow understanding of the laws and regulations, but it also ignores the complexity of reality.

A website poll shows that up to 92 percent of users support the practice of Shenzhen, and 97 percent of users have experienced looking into headlights on high beam while driving. Public opinion is not the sole basis for evaluating a certain traffic law enforcement action. But when public opinion reaches a high degree of consensus, its meaning should be taken seriously.

The overwhelming majority of users support the police action, which can be seen as a comment on weak enforcement of the traffic regulations.