Whether you travel to China for business or leisure, transport is one of the most important things to consider when you plan your trip. For pure convenience and freedom, you might wish to rent a car for the duration of your stay.
However, in a country like China, driving yourself can be a lot more complicated and risky than in the West. It is highly recommended that you hire a driver or use alternative modes of public transport rather than driving yourself. In this blog post, we explore the main reasons why foreigners should not drive in China while on a China business trip.
Obtaining a License to Drive in China
Before even considering driving in China, you need to be aware that an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) and an overseas driver’s license are not recognized by the Chinese government. Therefore, if you want to drive, you will need to apply for a Chinese driver’s license first.
There are several ways of obtaining a Chinese driver’s license. Though the process itself is not actually costly, it can be very time-consuming and troublesome, which is something you would probably rather avoid while on a business trip.
Also, a prerequisite to driving in China is having a valid Chinese visa for no less than 90 days. There is a silver lining, though: if you decide to obtain a Chinese driver’s license, your license will be valid for 7 years.
Rather than dealing with all the paperwork and testing, arranging corporate car services for your business trip in China can be very quick and simple. You can handle these details ahead of time and land in China knowing everything is already prepared.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting a Chinese driver’s license.
Rules of the Road: What Rules of the Road?
In China, cars drive on the right hand side of the road and overtake on the left. On occasion, however, it feels like the common saying “every man for himself” applies with regard to the driving culture in China. Unfortunately, there are many inexperienced drivers on the road due to the fact that China experienced massive growth in the number of privately owned cars in a very short timeframe, just about 10 years.
China also has one of the world’s highest per capita rates of vehicular fatalities. This can likely be attributed to the fact that the government does not always enforce strict road rules and many drivers ignore them. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 700 people die in China per day as a result of traffic accidents.
Chinese driving culture has popularly followed an unwritten rule of the road called “The Law of the Big.” This basically means that bigger vehicles such as trucks are the kings of the road and always have the right of way, causing other cars to move out of their way for fear of being pushed off the road.
Buses take second place as they swing from right to left, searching for small gaps in traffic, often paying little attention to the cars and motorbikes that they muscle off the roads.
Cars and motorbikes are known for using their horns far more often than their brakes and frequently skip red traffic lights, drive up one way streets, and often do not stop for pedestrians.
In China, you will also regularly see many fully overloaded vehicles and scooters, which are a huge safety risk. You need to have a lot of confidence and experience as a foreigner driving in China. It is always better to hire a professional local driver to get you around, preferably with years of experience driving on Chinese roads.
Confusing Road Signs
Being in a foreign country, it is expected to experience difficulty understanding some of the signs in and around the city. In China, however, what makes it so challenging is that some of the signs are already very confusing to begin with.
You may find that some roads have two different speed limits posted on the same stretch. Some signs even appear to completely contradict your navigation system, as many roads have two or three different versions of English names.
Imagine driving in China, trying to adjust to the hectic driving style, while also trying to navigate with confusing road signs. This can easily set you up for failure before you have even begun.
Even though many of these signs were corrected after the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, it is still common to find signs in China that have been translated directly into English but are linguistic disasters that do not make much sense.
Road Accidents and Traffic
Traffic and road accidents in China are a growing problem, driven by the country’s booming auto manufacturing industry and rapid urbanization over the past few decades since opening its gates in 1979.
China’s major cities constantly struggle with congestion, and traffic jams sometimes last for hours at a time. On some of the busiest expressways, minor accidents or construction work can easily bring vehicles to a standstill.
For business travelers on tight schedules, these conditions can quickly turn a simple drive into a stressful and exhausting experience. Getting stuck in unfamiliar traffic, coping with aggressive lane changing, and trying to follow confusing signs, all while keeping important meetings in mind, is a lot to take on.
If you’re planning on visiting more than one city in China, one of the safest travel options is to use the high-speed trains for long-distance trips.
Plan your trip to China today! Take advantage of US$10 OFF online discount now and book a private car & driver hire service anywhere in China. Simply click the image below:
