Driving in China vs. Croatia: Key Differences Uncovered
When navigating the roads of China and Croatia, understanding their driving regulations can enhance your travel experience and ensure safety. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol limits, which vary significantly between these countries. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can help prevent mishaps and promote a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed in certain cases; check local rules. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3] | Railroad crossings | Pedestrian crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane if possible. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
croatia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
croatia:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
croatia:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
croatia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
croatia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
croatia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
croatia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
croatia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
croatia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
croatia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
croatia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
croatia:
Yes
Signals
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese; symbols also used | Croatian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Triangle with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
croatia:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
china:
Signal when exiting
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
croatia:
Triangle with red border
Turns
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
croatia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Chinese driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required for short visits | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
croatia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
croatia:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
croatia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
croatia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
croatia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
croatia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight ahead | Use for first exit or straight |
Lane Usage: Right
china:
Use for first exit or straight ahead
croatia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 92 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 188 or check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
croatia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
croatia:
92
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| China | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; significant fines possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Yes, often |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; stated at the time of fine |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
croatia:
Significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
croatia:
Yes, often
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine