Late traffic policeman Li Yong at his post. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Many citizens in Qingdao, Shandong province, were familiar with a certain traffic policeman who eased congestion at the busiest crossroads in Shibei district with his high-spirited gesticulations.

His administration of traffic managed to not only lower the frequency of accidents and improve traffic flow, but also encouraged a better driving practice.

With a cheery demeanor, he would brighten the mood of those driving past by giving them the thumbs-up and a wide smile.

Sadly, however, that smile was dimmed around 1 am on Oct 3, when 55-year-old Li Yong sacrificed his life during a routine traffic stop at a bridged section of highway.

A suspected drunk driver refused to receive a breathalyzer test and attempted to escape through a highway guardrail that would have seen him plunge into a culvert.

With the suspect at an extreme risk of falling, Li immediately sprang into action, dragging the suspect to safety with help of his colleague, Zhang Chenggong.

The driver was saved, but Li fell into the culvert, injuring his head, Zhang recalls.

By the time the ambulance arrived, Li showed no sign of life. The following attempts to resuscitate him in hospital were in vain.

The news was a sudden blow to the city during the weeklong National Day holiday. People sent their condolences via social media.

Li joined the police force in 2005 at the age of 39 after 19 years of service in the military. He began working on traffic control in the downtown area of Shibei district and engaged in highway administration in 2017.

The respected policeman was well known for his zeal for work, as well as his kind-hearted personality.

With a behavioral and psychological study of driving practices, he invented 10 gestures, combined with the police whistle, to improve the efficiency of his work.

Some gestures lead drivers in the right direction, while some dissuade drivers from smoking in car or pressing on the horn. Others offer friendly hints about problems such as flat tires or unsecured doors.

Once practiced, the gestures were well-received by drivers and were promoted into use by other traffic police, both locally and around the country.

Tian Pengfei, a Qingdao citizen and a friend of Li's, was impressed with the innovative body language upon seeing him work for the first time at the crossroads in 2012.

"His voice and whistle were very loud and he could be heard even above horns of vehicles,"Tian recalls, adding that he also saw the policeman several times in rainy and snowy weather.

A portrait of Li and award certificates he had received are kept at his home in Qingdao, Shandong province. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Out of curiosity, Tian, as a reporter then, interviewed Li and discovered the police officer's insights into traffic safety.

Inspired by Li, Tian founded a volunteer organization called Qingdao Voluntary Road Rescue Team in 2014, aiming to provide roadside services and assistance, as well as promoting positive driving habits in the city. Li soon joined the organization. He was seen many times helping drivers with broken-down vehicles and even the occasional car fire.

Road safety was always high on Li's working agenda.

It cost him more than 20,000 yuan ($3,134) out of his own pocket to learn 3D animation on the computer, which he applied to a multimedia course that sought to spread traffic safety knowledge through lifelike presentation.

The local police authority says Li gave over 400 lessons to more than 140,000 people, including his fellow officers, workers and schoolchildren.

In 2012, he had opened a personal account on the Chinese microblogging platform, Sina Weibo, publishing frequent posts regarding traffic conditions and regulations and answering questions from other users.

The account had more than 30,000 followers and some of his posts have been forwarded, commented upon and liked 149,000 times.

"The more people get to know the traffic laws and understand road safety, the easier it is for traffic police to do their job," Li once said.

Li participated in social charity initiatives regularly, donating money and giving blood. Sometimes he would escort injured people to hospital.

However, Li's kindhearted nature didn't mean he would be benevolent to traffic violations. Instead, he punished offenders without hesitation and in line with the law.

He administrated more than 50,000 traffic violation penalties, according to data from the local police authority.

At home, Li was a devoted husband and father, who enjoyed life and had childlike qualities, according to Li's wife, Chen Ying.

"At the top of a refrigerator there are two toy guns, which we would frequently play with for fun," says Chen, adding that her husband also liked playing hide-and-seek with her.

"We had planned to take a self-driving tour around the country after he retired in five years," Chen says.

"The day my father died was my birthday according to the Chinese lunar calendar," says Li Sheng, the couple's daughter, adding that he would always be in their heart.

His professional legacy lives on, too, through his colleagues around the country and on the roads of the city he proudly served, one helpful gesture at a time.

Hu Qing contributed to the story.

xiechuanjiao@chinadaily.com.cn