Driving in Argentina vs. China: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Argentina and China, understanding their unique regulations is essential for a safe journey. From speed limits to overtaking rules, drivers will find notable distinctions. For instance, urban speed limits are 40 km/h in Argentina compared to 30 km/h in China, emphasizing the need for awareness while abroad.
Lanes
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
argentina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
argentina:
List length: 5
china:
List length: 4
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
argentina:
Pedestrian crossings
china:
Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
argentina:
No
china:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
china:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Yes, especially in urban areas |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
china:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
china:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
china:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
china:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
china:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
china:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
china:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
Signals
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard | Chinese; symbols also used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
china:
Not used in China
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
Turns
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
Documentation
| Argentina | 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 | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
argentina:
Valid driver's license required
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | 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
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially near bars and clubs |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; 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
argentina:
0.05%
china:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
Roundabouts
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight ahead |
Lane Usage: Right
argentina:
Use for first exit or straight
china:
Use for first exit or straight ahead
Emergency Services
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Same as general emergency; 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
china:
110
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
china:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | ¥50 to ¥200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
china:
¥50 to ¥200
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
china:
Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
china:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay