Driving Differences: China vs. Serbia for Safe Travels
When exploring the roads of China and Serbia, it's essential to understand the unique driving regulations and customs that govern each nation. From lane usage to speed limits, these two countries exhibit significant contrasts. For instance, China employs specific lane markings and varying speed limits, while Serbia emphasizes strict adherence to traffic laws and documentation requirements. Stay informed for a safer journey!
Lanes
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; 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.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
serbia:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
serbia:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
serbia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
serbia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used in Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
serbia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
serbia:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| China | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
china:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay