Tai Chi Traffic

Traffic cops are an interesting example of power and social pressure. They really have very little authority (you are in a car, or a motor vehicle of some sort and they are just standing in the middle of the road) and don't offer much punishment if you skip through that light after it's turned red, yet most people seem to obey. Even in Taiwan, where the red light appears to be more of a gentle suggestion to stop or an invitation to make a U-turn, the traffic cop holds sway.

The Taiwanese traffic cop technique of directing traffic is particularly beautiful. Not all traffic cops go the extra mile to make their hand-movements appealing, but my favorite traffic cop at the corner of Shan-Shi and Chung-de, never fails. Slowly he spreads his arms, cross-like with a whistle blow to stop that traffic. Then, after gently turning to the side, he slowly bends one arm to indicate that direction can go and turns again to repeat for the opposite direction. His movements are always smooth, controlled, and I somehow find it soothing to sit in morning traffic waiting through a light, inhaling the exhaust fumes in the "fresh" morning air, and watching the flow of traffic.