Are There Right-Hand Drive Cars in China?
2 Answers
China does have right-hand drive cars, particularly in Hong Kong where all vehicles are right-hand drive (abbreviated as RHD). However, mainland China currently does not have right-hand drive cars. About left-hand and right-hand drive: In right-hand drive cars, the driver sits on the right side, and the car drives on the left side of the road. Conversely, in left-hand drive cars, the driver sits on the left side, and the car drives on the right side of the road. The reason for the difference between left-hand and right-hand drive: The distinction between right-hand and left-hand drive cars primarily arises from different driving practices. In countries where vehicles drive on the left side of the road, the driver's position is on the right. If calculated by road mileage, 28% of the world's drivable roads are left-hand drive. Countries using right-hand drive cars are mainly the UK, Commonwealth countries, and former British colonies.
I remember when driving in mainland China, the steering wheel is always on the left side, and I've hardly ever seen right-hand drive cars because we are accustomed to driving on the right side of the road. In places like Hong Kong and Macau, there are right-hand drive vehicles due to historical influences. Hong Kong has been driving on the left since the British era, so the steering wheel is on the right. In mainland China, policies are strict; imported right-hand drive cars, such as used vehicles from Japan, must be modified to be registered, otherwise, they cannot be driven on regular roads to prevent traffic accidents. Some friends in border areas might encounter right-hand drive cars, but those are extremely rare, and driving them feels awkward with poor visibility control. Personally, I think a unified system is beneficial for safety, avoiding confusion. Overall, left-hand drive vehicles dominate the roads, and once you get used to it, there's no problem.
