Most visitors find they have enough trouble surviving Chinese traffic without actually taking the wheel.
It is generally best to just rent a car with a driver, or to employ a driver if you buy a car. Because of the Chinese wages, the cost of the driver is quite low.
You need a Chinese license to drive in China.
Foreigners who have driving license issued by their home countries can apply for a temporary driving license and drive in China without having to take related tests, according to a clause in a regulation issued by the Ministry of Public Security following a quick hour-long traffic law briefing.
Your license, however, will be time-limited.Actually getting a license may be complicated because the Chinese laws say that foreign residents can have driver's licences and that an IDP ( International Driver's Permit ) converted to a local licence, possibly with an additional examination.
Sometimes you can be excused the actual driving test if you have a foreign license, sometimes not. The particular complications seem to vary from place to place and over time. Some people have been asked to use a computer, some take a written theory test in Chinese. Others get a bilingual test form, or are allowed to bring a translator, (90 answers out of 100 correct) and that takes 30 - 45 minutes. If you are able to pass this test, they will convert the license for you to a chinese license.
What you need and what happens when you get your driving license..
A) A copy of the passport page
B) A copy of the valid Chinese visa
C) A copy of the latest entry stamp in your passport
D) Original overseas driving license
E) 8 one-inch color pictures (on white background, without earrings, glasses)
F) Your Chinese name, weight and height
G) Move from one buliing to another A LOT
Prices to get a driving license are about...........................
Sorry I do have a Chinese Driving License but I didn't paid, so I can't tell you how much but I THINK it was less the 500 rmb
The official driving code is called the Road Traffic Safety Law. It applies to all vehicles except military vehicles who may not follow any rules and may not stop at a red light or go the wrong direction.
Increasingly, Chinese Police tend to accept very much on their on-the-spot judgment of the driver being sufficiently skilled and experienced to drive safely with respect to his own and others safety.In case of an accident, if it is minor as a scrape, most people just drive on, but it is also common that the failing driver pay about 100RMB or so to the other driver, and that is then the end of the matter.
If you disagree, you must not move the cars until the police arrive, which can take time. They usually check registration and licenses, and photograph the incident.
Beware of large black luxury cars because they may belong to relatives of senior party or other officials and consider themselves to be above the law.
If you suspect that the police of taken bribes, make them aware that you know about the Ministry of Supervision (which ruthlessly deals with corruption), the Olympic Committee or the Tourist Complaint Board. It can have a profound effect on procedures.
Speed limits are as follows:
30 km/h (19 mph) on city roads where there is only one lane, up to 70 km/h (43 mph) on city roads where there is a major road with central reservation or two yellow lines, 80 km/h (50 mph) on Highways; 100 km/h (62 mph) on city express roads; 120 km/h (75 mph) on expressways. Some expressways if you drive over the stated speed limit you have a relatively a high risk of getting caught with Speed traps which are conveniently identified with Chinese characters for (radar trap) or (speed camera).
Penalties for exceeding the speed limits are as follows:
To us very strage for example: if driving at 100 km/h (62 mph) in a 80 km/h (50 mph) zone. up to 2,000 rmb and possible loss of license for excess speeds over 50% of the speed limit. Speeders are commonly known as biao che.
Road Conditions
The physical condition of roads and road maintenance varies greatly. WARNING to drivers and cyclists: it is not uncommon to find an open man hole cover or large crevice on a otherwise smooth road.
On the City Roads traffic is often congested, even on the ring roads. The congestion is far more complex than that in Western countries with Bicycles, Motorcycles and an odd Horse and cart turning up
Dangers
Chinese traffic appears to have no rules. On further inspection you will find that they are just avoiding the rules.
Knowing that will save your life.
Rule of thumb - busses never stop at the lights or slow down whilst turning. Do not assume that Chinese drivers will follow any rule you know.
Chinese drivers in general are very dangerous and drive in a highly illogical way. They adopt a highly offensive and ignorant driving style. However, this is no place for being angry for being cut off, if someone drives against the red light or on the wrong side of the road. You simply yield, and carry on as if nothing had happened because there is just too many to fight with. It is not uncommon to see cars drive on the Pavement/sidewalk (at speed).
Every car/driver has a "body language" which predicts what they will do next. It is essential to learn this "body language" and drive by it. If you are driving down a four lane road, and the lane in front of the taxi to the right of you and slightly ahead of you is blocked, your lane ahead is free, immediately assume the taxi will move left into your lane without any warning. There is no way to predict or learn the "body language".
Right of way - The concept of right-of-way does not apply.
Cars do not stop for pedestrians, only swerve around them or honk at them to clear the way.
Motorcycles and bicycles often do the same on sidewalks. Wide white bars, which a naive visitor might take for pedestrian crosswalks, are sometimes painted on roads. These have absolutely no effect on car or motorcycle traffic. Making a left turn in front of oncoming vehicles is quite normal. Those vehicles will not stop. They will just swerve around you, even if this means going across the center line and forcing whatever is behind you to swerve around them. Cutting people off, swerving into the oncoming lane, driving on the shoulder, or the wrong way down a divided highway, are all fine as long as they keep you moving in the right general direction.
As an extreme example, consider the driver making a left turn onto a busy street from a minor one. Elsewhere, there might be a stop sign - not in China. Suppose traffic coming from his left is too heavy to allow the turn. Does he wait for an opening? Not a Chinese driver! He turns left immediately and drives the wrong way down the shoulder until he can move right and merge with traffic going his way. In China, there are only two rules you must obey, both equally important.
Don't hit anything, and don't get hit by anything.
Indication lights - Few drivers bother with switching on the indication lights when they are changing lanes. Some drivers honk when switching lanes. Many will not look to see if the lane is clear before changing lanes; cars behind them will swerve or stop to avoid them.
Overtaking on the right is, despite being illegal, is very common in China.
Lights on - Lorry drivers may not bother with switching on lights during the night. You should. Switch on your headlamps -- all lights on.
Few Chinese drivers seem to know about dimming their headlights for approaching cars. and so driving at night is unpleasant and dangerous. Avoid it if at all possible. Also be very aware that people often walk in the middle of the road, with the back to the oncoming traffic, in dark clothes.
Newbies ( Learners / Just Passed) are often marked with the label ??, but their driving quality varies from acceptable to deplorable.
Stay away from them if you can -- they are often overwhelmed by the traffic too!Bottom line is don't drive in China, hire someone. I visited a driving school near to Xing Hai square and found the driving simulator that they use to teach Chinese to drive with.
Some dates or facts maybe untrue Copyright - rhymeroyal -
