Driving in China vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in roadway regulations and vehicular practices between China and Russia. From speed limits to lane usage, each country presents unique approaches to ensure road safety. This comparison highlights essential distinctions, such as bus lane restrictions and alcohol limits, providing valuable insights for travelers navigating these diverse driving environments.
Lanes
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| 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.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
russia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
russia:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
russia:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
russia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
russia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
china:
30 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used in Russia |
| 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 | Russian; 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
russia:
Not used in Russia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
russia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
russia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
china:
Displayed on windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.035% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common, especially in cities |
| 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%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
russia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Penalties And Fines
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay