Driving Differences: China vs. Senegal Explained
When navigating the roads of China and Senegal, drivers encounter notable variations that impact their journey. From lane usage and speed limits to documentation requirements, understanding these distinctions is essential for safe and responsible travel. Explore how these two nations differ in their driving regulations to ensure a smooth experience abroad.
Lanes
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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.
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
senegal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
senegal:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
senegal:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
senegal:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
senegal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
senegal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
senegal:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
senegal:
Yes
Signals
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used in Senegal |
| 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 | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
senegal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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
senegal:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
senegal:
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
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
china:
Displayed on windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Frequent use compared to 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 the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
china:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
senegal:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
senegal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
senegal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
senegal:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 17 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
senegal:
17
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| China | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days