Driving in China vs. Georgia: Key Differences Explained
Explore the fascinating contrasts in road regulations and driving habits between China and Georgia. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and emergency protocols, this comparison highlights essential variations that affect travel safety. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience while navigating through either country.
Lanes
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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: Requirements | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
georgia:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
georgia:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
china:
30 km/h
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
georgia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
georgia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
georgia:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
georgia:
Yes
Signals
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used |
| 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 | Georgian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
georgia:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
georgia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
georgia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
china:
Displayed on windshield
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
georgia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
georgia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
georgia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
georgia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
georgia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| China | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days