Driving Differences: China vs. Philippines Explained
When navigating the roads in China and the Philippines, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key disparities include lane markings, speed limits, and overtaking rules, all crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Understanding these variations will enhance your driving confidence in each nation.
Lanes
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| 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 PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. | Shared with motorcycles or 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 occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
philippines:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
philippines:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
philippines:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
china:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
china:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
philippines:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
philippines:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
philippines:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
philippines:
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
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
china:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Road Etiquette
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
china:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
philippines:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
philippines:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Penalties And Fines
| China | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance