Driving Differences: China vs. Greece Uncovered

Exploring the road rules of China and Greece reveals fascinating contrasts in their driving regulations and safety practices. While both countries prioritize road safety, China employs stricter speed limits and unique lane markings, whereas Greece emphasizes clear signage and a different approach to alcohol limits. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for any traveler navigating foreign roads.

chinagreece

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in china is 49

1.162 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for china is 1.162 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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	China	Greece
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: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	Not applicable

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

china:

Separates directions on multi-lane roads.

greece:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

china:

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

greece:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Right

china:

Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.

greece:

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

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

china:

List length: 4

greece:

List length: 5

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]

china:

Railroad crossings

greece:

Pedestrian crossings

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

china:

Use rightmost lane if possible.

greece:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Usage

china:

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

greece:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

china:

Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.

greece:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

china:

Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.

greece:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

china:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.

greece:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

china:

Yes

greece:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

china:

Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants

greece:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

china:

Yes

greece:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

china:

Electronic signs display current limits.

greece:

Not applicable

Speeds Limits

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	China	Greece
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	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, especially in urban areas	Yes, fines can be issued on the spot

Urban Areas: Standard

china:

40-60 km/h

greece:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

china:

70-90 km/h

greece:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

china:

70-80 km/h

greece:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

china:

60-80 km/h

greece:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

china:

100-120 km/h

greece:

130 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

china:

90-100 km/h

greece:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

china:

80-100 km/h

greece:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

china:

Yes

greece:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

china:

Electronic signs display current limits

greece:

Not applicable

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

china:

Yes, especially in urban areas

greece:

Yes, fines can be issued on the spot

Signals

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	China	Greece
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in China	Not used in Greece
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution	Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Traffic Signs: Language	Chinese; symbols also used	Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular shape with red borders	Triangle-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

china:

Not used in China

greece:

Not used in Greece

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

china:

Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution

greece:

Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary

Traffic Signs: Language

china:

Chinese; symbols also used

greece:

Greek and English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

china:

Triangular shape with red borders

greece:

Triangle-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	China		Greece
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		Varies by locality; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

china:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality

greece:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

china:

Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs

greece:

Varies by locality; check for signs

Documentation

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	China	Greece
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; International Driving Permit not required
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	Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Driver's License: Requirement

china:

Valid Chinese driver's license required

greece:

Valid driver's license required

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

china:

International Driving Permit required for short visits

greece:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

china:

International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required

greece:

International Driving Permit required

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

china:

Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles

greece:

Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

china:

Displayed on windshield

greece:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

china:

Not mandatory, but recommended

greece:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	China		Greece
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

greece:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

china:

Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

greece:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	China	Greece
Limits: General Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially near bars and clubs	Common; police may set up roadblocks
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 and potential penalties

Limits: General Drivers

china:

0.02%

greece:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

china:

0.00%

greece:

0.02%

Enforcement: Random Checks

china:

Common, especially near bars and clubs

greece:

Common; police may set up roadblocks

Enforcement: Fines

china:

Severe fines, license suspension possible

greece:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

china:

Can result in license suspension and legal penalties

greece:

Can result in license suspension and potential penalties

Roundabouts

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	China		Greece
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

greece:

Use for first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	China	Greece
Contact: General Emergency	110	112
Contact: Traffic Police	Same as general emergency; 110	100
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	10400 for ELPA assistance
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

china:

110

greece:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

china:

Same as general emergency; 110

greece:

100

Contact: Roadside Assistance

china:

Check with your insurance provider

greece:

10400 for ELPA assistance

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

china:

Not mandatory, but recommended

greece:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	China	Greece
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license	Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	¥50 to ¥200	€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines and points on license	€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often paid online or at banks	Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay	Varies; typically 10 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

china:

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

greece:

Varies; €40 to €700, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

china:

¥50 to ¥200

greece:

€350, points on license

Common Fines: Phone Use

china:

Fines and points on license

greece:

€100, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

china:

Fines and points on license

greece:

€350, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

china:

Possible; fines often paid online or at banks

greece:

Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days

Payment: Deadline

china:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay

greece:

Varies; typically 10 days to pay