Driving in China vs. Paraguay: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of China and Paraguay, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly influence their travel experience. From lane markings to speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safety abroad. Dive into the key contrasts and be well-prepared for your journey in either nation.
Lanes
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| 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: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| 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; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
paraguay:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
paraguay:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
paraguay:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
china:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used in Paraguay |
| 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 | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
paraguay:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
paraguay:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
china:
Displayed on windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
china:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; police checkpoints |
| 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%
paraguay:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
paraguay:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 911 |
| 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
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| China | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days