Driving Differences: China vs. Spain Explained
Discover the fascinating contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between China and Spain. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol restrictions, each country presents unique challenges and practices. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring your safety and compliance while navigating foreign roads. Dive into the details to drive with confidence abroad!
Lanes
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; 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: Requirements | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
spain:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
spain:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
spain:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 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 | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
china:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
100-120 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used in Spain |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
spain:
Not used in Spain
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
spain:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
spain:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
china:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
china:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
china:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
spain:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| China | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
china:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay