| Here you can find out regulations relating to drivers of motor vehicles and non-motor vehicle, pedestrians & passengers. We also provide instructions for registering a motor vehicle and obtaining a driver's license and the information of inpurchasing compulsory traffic accident insurance. We will tell you what to do if you are warned or fined by a traffic police officer for a traffic violation. |  |
See the following for details about Guangzhou traffic administration:
1. Drivers of motor vehicles should comply with the following traffic rules:
(1) Carry a valid license issued by the traffic administration agency of the public security bureau;
(2) Do not use a vehicle plate, driver's license, pass or any other transportation document which has been tampered with, forged or illegally acquired or belongs to another person;
(3) Do not drive a motor vehicle whose license plate is incomplete, blurred/unreadable, damaged or otherwise illegible;
(4) Do not use a mobile phone or check text messages while driving; do not throw anything out of the vehicle window;
(5) Do not use an invalid transportation document;
(6) Do not park on a road section where parking is prohibited; when stopping temporarily on a no-parking road section, the driver should stay in the vehicle, and the vehicle should not hinder the traffic or endanger public safety;
(7) Do no practice driving on a road;
(8) Give way to public buses entering or exiting a bus station;
(9) Carry a working fire extinguisher in the vehicle;
(10) Abide by all other traffic regulations promulgated by governments at all levels in the PRC.
Note: Motorcycles are banned in downtown Guangzhou. Due to a dramatic increase of the number of motor vehicles, congested traffic conditions are common from 7 am to 9 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm. Foreigners in Guangzhou should not drive until they have become familiar with the complicated road conditions and are encouraged to use taxis or the subway during rush hours. 2. Non-motor Vehicle Safety Rules (1) A non-motor vehicle should operate on non-motor vehicle lanes only. When parked, a non-motor vehicle should not exceed the parking line. On the roadway without a lane for non-motor vehicles, the non-motor vehicle should keep to the right and must not enter the lane for motor vehicles. (2) On a roadway with a sign prohibiting the operation of non-motor vehicles, the driver should disembark his or her non-motor vehicle on the sidewalk and push his or her vehicle. (3) While crossing a road, the driver of a non-motor vehicle must stop when the red light on the crosswalk goes on and proceed when the green light goes on. At a crosswalk, the driver must disembark and push his or her non-motor vehicle across the crosswalk. (4) At an intersection without a crosswalk, the driver of a non-motor vehicle should follow traffic signals or other indicators for motor vehicles and keep to the right of the motor lane. (5) When turning a corner, slow down, look back, and extend your hand to signal the manouver. Do not rush or turn the corner abruptly. (6) To cross a roadway which features a divider, a non-motor vehicle operator should follow the traffic signs and push his or her vehicle across the roadway via the pedestrian underpass or overpass. (7) A non-motor vehicle should not carry oversized or exceedingly heavy goods and must not carry any passenger on a road downtown. Note: A pedestrian or non-motor vehicle operator violating any traffic rule is liable for a fine of up to RMB 50. If he or she refuses to pay the fine, his or her vehicle may be impounded. Obstruction of traffic rule enforcement may lead to administrative detention for up to 15 days. 3. Safety Instructions to Pedestrians & Passengers (1) When reaching an intersection with a crosswalk and traffic signals, a pedestrian should stop when the red light is showing and proceed when the green light is illuminated. Crossing the street by jumping over a barrier or fence without using the crosswalk, running contrary to a red light and jaywalking are strictly prohibited. (2) When crossing streets, walk quickly across the crosswalk when the light turns green. If the green light flashes before you reach the crosswalk, do not continue crossing; rather, stay at the curb or the safety island. (3) When crossing a street without a crosswalk, look both ways and walk quickly across the street only if it's absolutely safe to do so. (4) If the street has a divider, the pedestrian should follow directional signs and cross via the pedestrian underpass or overpass that is closest. (5) Passengers should stand at the bus stop rather than in the carriageway while waiting for a public bus, and should board the bus in turn after it has completely stopped. Do not hail a taxi while standing at an area or driveway where taxis are prohibited from stopping. Get into the taxi from the left side of the vehicle only after it has completely stopped. (6) Look back and all around before you exit a taxi; do not leave the taxi unless there is no other vehicle immediately behind you. After getting out of the taxi, don't linger in the roadway; rather, walk onto the sidewalk immediately. (7) While riding in a vehicle, buckle up if a safety belt is provided. Do no put your head or arm outside the window; do not throw anything out of the window. Watch for traffic nearby when getting off the vehicle. No vehicle should be stopped within 50 meters of an intersection or on any road section where stopping is prohibited. A foreign national applying for a driver's license in China should satisfy the driver's qualification requirements as prescribed by the public security authority under the State Council. If the applicant has satisfied all these requirements and passed the test, he or she will be awarded a driver's license by the transportation administration agency for the relevant category of vehicles. A foreign national who holds a foreign driver's license may be awarded a Chinese driver's license if he or she has satisfied the driver's qualification requirements prescribed by the public security authority under the State Council and passed the test administered by the transportation administration agency. 1. A foreign national without a foreign driver's license who is applying for a Chinese driver's license for the first time should furnish the following documents: (1) A completed Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form; (2) The original and one photocopy of his or her identity papers (for a foreign national, the identity paper refers to the passport or other identity papers used to enter China (an identity paper written in a foreign language should be accompanied with a certified Chinese translation), and residence permit (A PRC Foreign National Residence Permit or a PRC Foreign National Permanent Residence Permit (which is consistent with the validity period of the passport) or a valid identity paper issued by a foreign diplomatic mission in China or the representative office of an international organization in China; (3) A certificate of physical fitness issued by a hospital at or above the county or regiment level. (4) Eight color photos of the applicant showing the front face (the photos should have a white background and the head should occupy two thirds of the length of the photo). An applicant wishing to attend a driver's training course may register with a training course provider. The course provider is responsible for registering the trainees with the Vehicle Administration Office of the Traffic Police Squad of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau (No. 1732, Huaguan Road, Tianhe District). 2. A foreign national holding a foreign driver's license who is applying for a Chinese driver's license should furnish the following documents: (1) A completed Motor Vehicle Driver's License Application Form; (2) The original and one photocopy of his or her identity paper (for a foreign national, the identity paper refers to the passport or other identity papers with which he or she used to enter China (an identity paper written in a foreign language should be accompanied by a certified Chinese translation), a residence permit (A PRC Foreign National Residence Permit or a PRC Foreign National Permanent Residence Permit which is concurrent with the validity period of the passport) or a valid identity paper issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a staff member of a foreign diplomatic mission in China or the representative office of an international organization in China; (3) A certificate of physical fitness issued by a hospital at or above the county or regiment level (this requirement is waived if the applicant is a staff member of a foreign diplomatic mission in China or the representative office of an international organization in China); (4) The original and one photocopy of his or her valid foreign driver's license (certified Chinese translation is required if the license is in a foreign language); (5) Eight color photos of the applicant showing the front face (the photos should have a white background and the head should occupy two thirds of the length of the photo); (6) The original and one photocopy of the diplomat certificate if the applicant is a staff member of a foreign consulate in Guangzhou, and a photocopy of his or her passport with certified Chinese translation bearing the consul's signature and the consulate's stamp. An applicant who is required to take a test should submit his or her application documents to the Vehicle Administration Office of the Traffic Police Squad of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau (No. 1732, Huaguan Road, Tianhe District). An applicant who is not required to take a test may send his or her application documents to the Vehicle Administration Office of the Traffic Police Squad of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau (No. 1732, Huaguan Road, Tianhe District), the Baiyun Vehicle Administration Office (No. 888, Airport Road, Baiyuan District, Guangzhou), or the Huangpu Vehicle Administration Office (No. 989, Maogang Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou). 3. Other Provisions (1) A foreign national holding a foreign driver's license who is applying for a Chinese driver's license should take the Category I Test. An applicant applying for a license for driving large-sized buses, trailers, medium-sized buses or large-sized trucks should take the Category II Test as well. A staff member of a foreign diplomatic mission in China or the representative office of an international organization in China who is applying for a Chinese driver's license may be issued a license according to relevant diplomatic reciprocity principles. (2) In any of the following circumstances, the application for a driver's license will be rejected: (i) The applicant suffers from an organic heart disease, epilepsy, Meniere disease, disabling giddiness, hysteria, Parkinson's disease, psychosis, dementia, a nervous system disease that affects limb movements, and any other disease which may cause the driving by the applicant to be a source of danger to the public; (ii) The applicant uses narcotics or is addicted to psychotropic drugs; (iii) Less than three years have elapsed since the applicant's previous driver's license was revoked; (iv) The applicant's previous driver's license has been revoked for fleeing the scene of a traffic accident for which he or she was judged responsible; (v) Less than two years has elapsed since the applicant's driver's registration was revoked; (vi) Any other negative circumstances prescribed by laws or administrative regulations. (3) Age Requirements (i) An applicant seeking a driver's license for a light vehicle, car with automatic transmission or scooter must be between 18 and 70 years of age; (ii) An applicant seeking a driver's license for a low-speed truck, three-wheel truck, regular three or two-wheel motorcycle or self-propelled wheeled machine must be between 18 and 60 years of age; (iii) An applicant seeking a driver's license for a public bus, heavy-duty truck, trackless trolley or railcar must be between 21 and 50 years of age. (4) Physical Requirements (i) Height: An applicant seeking a driver's license for a public bus, heavy-duty truck or trackless trolley must be more than 155 cm tall. (ii) Eyesight: The applicant's naked or corrected vision must be greater than 5.0 on the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart if he or she is applying for a driver's license for a public bus, heavy-duty truck, trackless trolley or railcar, and must be greater than 4.9 if he or she is applying for a driver's license for any other type of vehicle. (iii) Color Vision: The applicant must not be blind to red or yellow. (iv) Hearing: Both the applicant's ears must be able to distinguish the source of sound when the tuning fork is held 50 cm from the ear. (v) Both the applicant's thumbs and at least three fingers on each hand must be functional, and all limbs and fingers must function properly. (vi) Lower Limbs: Must be fully functional. To apply for a driver's license for a vehicle with manual transmission, both the applicant's legs must be equal or not have a length difference of more than 5cm. To apply for a driver's license for a vehicle with automatic transmission, the applicant's right lower limb must be able to function properly. (vii) Torso and Neck: Free of movement dysfunction. Owners or operators of motor vehicles on roads in China should purchase compulsory traffic accident insurance according to the law. The vehicle administration office will not register vehicles or issue conformance labels to vehicles without such insurance.. Traffic Accidents 1. A driver involved in a traffic accident should immediately stop and protect the scene. 2. If any personal injury is caused to another person and the driver must immediately try to rescue the injured person and report the accident to a traffic police officer or the vehicle administration office as soon as practical. Any change to the scene of the accident necessitated by attempts to rescue the injured must be clearly marked. 3. In the event of an accident with no personal injury, provided that there is no dispute about the details and liability, both parties may record the time and location of the accident and each other's name, contact information, vehicle license plate number, driver's registration number, insurance policy number, and the location of impact on the vehicle and jointly sign the record as confirmation; both parties may then leave the scene and negotiate compensation on their own afterwards. If both parties do not want to leave the scene or a dispute is persent regarding the details and liability of the accident, they must immediately report the accident to a traffic police officer and/or the vehicle administration office. A foreign national on a short-term stay in China who intends to drive a vehicle should apply for a temporary Chinese driver's license with the vehicle administration office at the port of entry or city of departure, and should carry the license, if granted, at all times and drive safely. A foreign driver in Guangzhou who has been warned or fined by a traffic police officer for a traffic violation has the right to defend himself. The interpreter of the foreign driver should interpret the officer's statement to the foreign driver on the spot. If the foreign driver does not agree with the administrative penalty, he or she may request an administrative review or file a notice of administrative litigation. A foreign vehicle on a temporary trip to China should obtain a temporary Chinese license plate and driver's registration from the public security bureau at the port of entry or city of departure and leave notification of his or her postal address and telephone number with the proper authorities in Guangzhou. A foreign driver in Guangzhou with a traffic violation captured by a surveillance camera should respond to the traffic violation notice that he or she has received in person or by post.