Why Does China Drive on the Right?
3 Answers
Because it is stipulated by law that traffic keeps to the right. According to Article 35 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles shall keep to the right. Below are relevant introductions: 1. Article 36: 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 shall travel in their respective lanes. On roads without designated motor vehicle lanes, non-motor vehicle lanes, or sidewalks, motor vehicles shall travel in the middle of the road, while non-motor vehicles and pedestrians shall travel on both sides. 2. Article 57: When driving non-motor vehicles on the road, relevant traffic safety regulations shall be observed. Non-motor vehicles shall travel within non-motor vehicle lanes; on roads without non-motor vehicle lanes, they shall travel on the right side of the vehicle lane.
Since I was a child, I've heard elders talk about how chaotic traffic rules were right after the founding of New China—some places drove on the left, others on the right, leading to frequent accidents. After 1946, the government standardized right-hand driving, mainly drawing from the models of the United States and the Soviet Union, countries with advanced automotive industries, making it much easier for China to import their vehicles. This change helped reduce many accidents because once drivers got used to right-hand driving, turns at intersections became smoother, making the entire traffic system safer and more orderly. Having experienced the previous disorder firsthand, I felt much more at ease going out after the rule change. Looking back now, it wasn't just a policy—it reflected the strides of societal progress.
As an ordinary person who drives frequently, I must say that driving on the right side of the road really enhances road safety. Simply put, the right-side rule reduces collisions during turns and merges because drivers have better visibility and can judge distances more easily. For example, at intersections, vehicles turning left have priority, which reduces crossing conflicts. This rule originated from government decisions in the 1940s, drawing on international standards to unify the nation and avoid confusion. With China's large population and dense road network, driving on the right helps save time and fuel. In my daily highway driving, I clearly notice a lower accident rate—this design is truly practical.
