Driving Differences: China vs. Israel You Should Know
When comparing the road regulations of China and Israel, notable contrasts emerge that are essential for ensuring safety while navigating each country's unique driving environment. From lane markings to speed limits and alcohol regulations, drivers must be aware of these distinctions to foster a secure and responsible experience on the roads.
Lanes
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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 | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
israel:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
israel:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
israel:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
israel:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 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: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
israel:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
israel:
Yes
Signals
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese; symbols also used | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
israel:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
israel:
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
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Moderate 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
israel:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
china:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
israel:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
israel:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | Check local numbers |
| 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
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| China | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
china:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay