Experienced accident appraisers are helping speed the traffic flow on Shanghai's elevated highways by working with police and motorists to quickly clear up road wrecks.

A team of nine professional appraisers was invited to begin assisting traffic police in January.

Shanghai's 100-kilometer network of high-speed elevated roads faces growing pressure from an increasing number of cars and trucks.

Huge backups often occur during accidents. Drivers have been told to move their cars after a mishap to avoid traffic congestion, but many don't comply until police arrive.

Disagreement over compensation is the main reason, officers said.

"On the elevated highways, the responsibility for a crash is usually very clear," said Yu Jiang of the Shanghai Road Accident Damage Appraisal Center.

"But it's more difficult for the drivers to agree on compensation for vehicle damages, and that's keeping them at the accident sites."

The appraisers provide an on-the-spot damage assessment, and most drivers are willing to accept their mediation, Yu said.

The appraisers will also help lead the damaged cars off the highway to the nearest parking lot so the drivers don't violate the rules against needlessly blocking the roads.

The same work would take a patrol officer 20 to 30 minutes to accomplish. Since the appraisers began, they have handled 395 cases, escorting about six damaged vehicles off the elevated highways every day.

(Shanghai Daily April 14, 2005)