Driving in Afghanistan vs. China: Key Differences Explored

When navigating the roads of Afghanistan and China, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring safe travels. Key disparities include lane usage, speed limits, and documentation requirements. While Afghanistan often lacks certain road markings and specialized lanes, China boasts a structured system with specific rules for buses and high-occupancy vehicles. Explore these variations to drive confidently abroad.

afghanistanchina

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in afghanistan is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in afghanistan is 29

0.871 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for afghanistan is 0.871 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Afghanistan	China
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Not commonly used.	Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Not commonly used.	Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 5	List length: 4
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]	Pedestrian crossings	Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use rightmost lane if possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage	N/A	Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	N/A	Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits.

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

afghanistan:

Not commonly used.

china:

Separates directions on multi-lane roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

afghanistan:

Not commonly used.

china:

Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Right

afghanistan:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

china:

Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

afghanistan:

List length: 5

china:

List length: 4

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]

afghanistan:

Pedestrian crossings

china:

Railroad crossings

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

afghanistan:

Use rightmost lane.

china:

Use rightmost lane if possible.

Bus Lanes: Presence

afghanistan:

china:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.

Bus Lanes: Markings

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

afghanistan:

china:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

afghanistan:

china:

Yes

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

afghanistan:

china:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Afghanistan	China
Urban Areas: Standard	25-40 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	25 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100-120 km/h	90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, fines can be issued instantly	Yes, especially in urban areas

Urban Areas: Standard

afghanistan:

25-40 km/h

china:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

afghanistan:

25 km/h

china:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

afghanistan:

80-100 km/h

china:

70-90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

afghanistan:

80-100 km/h

china:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

afghanistan:

100-120 km/h

china:

90-100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

afghanistan:

china:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

afghanistan:

N/A

china:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

afghanistan:

Yes, fines can be issued instantly

china:

Yes, especially in urban areas

Signals

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	Afghanistan	China
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Afghanistan	Not used in China
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
Traffic Signs: Language	Pashto, Dari	Chinese; symbols also used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Standard symbols used	Triangular shape with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

afghanistan:

Not used in Afghanistan

china:

Not used in China

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

afghanistan:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

china:

Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution

Traffic Signs: Language

afghanistan:

Pashto, Dari

china:

Chinese; symbols also used

Traffic Signs: Warning

afghanistan:

Standard symbols used

china:

Triangular shape with red borders

Turns

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	Afghanistan		China
Right Turn On Red	Not usually allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
U- Turns Allowed	Varies; check for signs		Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs

Right Turn On Red

afghanistan:

Not usually allowed

china:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality

U- Turns Allowed

afghanistan:

Varies; check for signs

china:

Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs

Documentation

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	Afghanistan	China
Driver's License: Requirement	Valid driver's license required	Valid Chinese driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit required for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Driver's License: Requirement

afghanistan:

Valid driver's license required

china:

Valid Chinese driver's license required

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

afghanistan:

International Driving Permit recommended

china:

International Driving Permit required for short visits

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

afghanistan:

International Driving Permit recommended

china:

International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

afghanistan:

Annual vehicle inspection required

china:

Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

afghanistan:

Not mandatory

china:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

afghanistan:

Not mandatory

china:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Afghanistan		China
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

afghanistan:

Frequent use compared to some countries

china:

Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

afghanistan:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

china:

Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Afghanistan	China
Limits: General Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Less common; checkpoints used in some areas	Common, especially near bars and clubs
Enforcement: Fines	Varies by region; can be substantial	Severe fines, license suspension possible
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and legal penalties

Limits: General Drivers

afghanistan:

0.00%

china:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

afghanistan:

0.00%

china:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

afghanistan:

Less common; checkpoints used in some areas

china:

Common, especially near bars and clubs

Enforcement: Fines

afghanistan:

Varies by region; can be substantial

china:

Severe fines, license suspension possible

Test Refusal

afghanistan:

Can result in license suspension

china:

Can result in license suspension and legal penalties

Roundabouts

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	Afghanistan		China
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for first exit or straight ahead

Lane Usage: Right

afghanistan:

Use for first exit or straight

china:

Use for first exit or straight ahead

Emergency Services

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	Afghanistan	China
Contact: General Emergency	112	110
Contact: Traffic Police	Dial local police station	Same as general emergency; 110
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider; limited services	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

afghanistan:

112

china:

110

Contact: Traffic Police

afghanistan:

Dial local police station

china:

Same as general emergency; 110

Contact: Roadside Assistance

afghanistan:

Check with your insurance provider; limited services

china:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

afghanistan:

Not mandatory, but recommended

china:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Afghanistan	China
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; 500 AFN and above	Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply for not wearing seat belts	¥50 to ¥200
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply for use while driving	Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply, point system not common	Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; fines may be paid instantly	Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within a few days	Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

afghanistan:

Varies; 500 AFN and above

china:

Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

afghanistan:

Substantial fines, possible jail time

china:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

afghanistan:

Fines apply for not wearing seat belts

china:

¥50 to ¥200

Common Fines: Phone Use

afghanistan:

Fines apply for use while driving

china:

Fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

afghanistan:

Fines apply, point system not common

china:

Fines and points on license

Payment: On The Spot

afghanistan:

Yes; fines may be paid instantly

china:

Possible; fines often paid online or at banks

Payment: Deadline

afghanistan:

Varies; typically within a few days

china:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay