Should Vehicles Drive on the Right Side in China?
4 Answers
According to China's Road Traffic Safety Law, motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles must drive on the right side, while pedestrians should walk on sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, pedestrians should walk on the side of the road. Based on road conditions and traffic needs: Roads are divided into motor vehicle lanes, non-motor vehicle lanes, and sidewalks. Motor vehicles, non-motor vehicles, and pedestrians must travel in their respective lanes. If the road is not divided into motor vehicle lanes, non-motor vehicle lanes, and sidewalks, motor vehicles should travel in the middle of the road, while non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should travel on both sides. When driving on the road: Motor vehicles must not exceed the maximum speed indicated by speed limit signs. On roads without speed limit signs, drivers must maintain a safe speed. When driving at night, on dangerous road sections, or in adverse weather conditions such as sandstorms, hail, rain, snow, fog, or icy roads, drivers should reduce their speed.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I know that in our country, we indeed drive on the right side of the road, a rule clearly stated in traffic regulations. I remember when I first started driving, my instructor repeatedly emphasized keeping to the right, otherwise it's easy to get into accidents. Nowadays, with so many cars in the city and complex road conditions, if you don't follow the rules, not only will you be fined by traffic police, but you might also face serious problems like head-on collisions with vehicles from the opposite lane. Even when overtaking on the highway, you need to check the left rearview mirror first, which is an extension of the right-side driving rule. Some friends who just returned from left-hand driving countries often find it hard to adjust, and I always remind them they must adapt, because safety comes first.
As a professional in the transportation industry, I have observed road designs in many countries. China's choice of driving on the right is primarily rooted in history, a tradition shared by major automotive nations like the United States and Germany. Right-hand driving allows drivers in left-hand drive vehicles to better observe road conditions, especially providing a wider field of vision during overtaking. This rule is particularly crucial on winding mountain roads. I recall a national highway accident statistic from last year showing that 60% of head-on collisions occurred due to vehicles encroaching on the opposite lane. Currently, highway lane dividers and median barriers are designed based on the right-hand driving rule. Violating this rule means challenging the entire traffic system.
Frequently traveling on business across various regions, I've found that the habit of keeping to the right is deeply ingrained in me. In big cities, whether on overpasses or in tunnels, all directional arrows clearly indicate the right-side driving direction. On highways, the leftmost lane of the same direction is usually the overtaking lane, which is part of the keep-right system. I remember driving on mountain roads in Yunnan last year, where every sharp turn had convex mirrors to observe oncoming traffic—these facilities are all designed based on the keep-right principle. Even when temporarily parking, I instinctively pull over to the right to leave space for vehicles behind. Violating this rule would definitely provoke honks from following cars, as going against the traffic flow is too dangerous.
