On country roads around the western Chinese city of Chongqing, thousands of learner drivers have been hurrying to take their driving tests.
Pupils wanted the exam out of the way by 1 June, when the government - alarmed by China's poor road safety record - made it tougher.
But critics say that even the new test will not do enough to save lives, or prepare people for the manic driving conditions of China's cities.
Huang Lixia, who took her test soon before the new rules came into effect, admitted to feeling nervous as she waited with two fellow students in a Help Each Other Driving School car.
But she need not have worried. During the test she did not have to make a left or right turn, brake for other vehicles, or deal with other cars overtaking her.
She passed with flying colours. Her six months of practice on her $250 driving course was well worth it.
"Everything went smoothly," beamed Chongqing's latest new driver. " I am very excited. I'm going out to buy a car very soon."
And if she had failed, it is well known that people can buy their way through the test - in Chongqing the going rate is $250 - even though Yu Xin, vice-director of Chongqing Public Security Bureau Transport Division, denied ever coming across cases of bribery.
Frightening figures
Such lax standards have contributed to some terrifying statistics on road safety.
"The aim of these new skill tests is to stop the road killers"
According to the government, 300 people a day die in road accidents in China, although the WHO puts the figure at 680.
China's death rate per 10,000 cars is eight times higher than that in the US.
And driver negligence is a key factor, with 78.5% of deaths caused by improper driving.
But there are other reasons for this toll. In China's mountainous regions, the roads are treacherous, poorly maintained and suffering regular landslides.
Overloaded haulage vehicles are a common sight. Pedestrians also seem to be oblivious to traffic, wandering across busy roads.
The vice-director of the Help Each Other Driving School believes that China's rapid urbanisation has a lot to do with poor driving.
"In my opinion, the city folk obey the traffic rules more," said Zhang Shuishan. "But because everyone is together, the urban people start ignoring the rules too - like at road crossings."
Toughening the test
The Chinese government has responded to the country's poor road safety by deciding to toughen up the national driving test.
The current exam - theory, reversing and a short countryside drive - will remain. But pupils will also have to demonstrate their handling skills in specially constructed compounds.
These test centres should have steep ramps which will test hill-starts, as well as an obstacle course.
A learner, after a bit of practise, should be able to steer a path around several small, dome-like humps on the road. But these obstacles are fixed, and drivers will not have to worry about other vehicles or pedestrians. It is a sterile driving environment.
Nonetheless, staff here are convinced that this will raise standards.
"The aim of these new skill tests is to stop the road killers," said Chongqing instructor Chen Mingfang.
"It should make our students drive competently when they come into real road situations, and so increase safety."
But the new test still shies away from examining learners in real, everyday road situations.
Possibly, the government believes that a radical overhaul could be tantamount to an admission of system failure.
Whatever the reason, the new Chinese licence to drive will still have little to do with proven competence.
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