The official driving code in the People's Republic of China is the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. It applies to all vehicles in China except military vehicles. A vehicle with a military license plate may not follow any rules. It may not stop at a red light or go the wrong direction.

There is a supplementary regulation to the Road Traffic Safety Law which specifies how specific regulations in the main law are supposed to be carried out.

Increasingly, Chinese Police tend to accept the IDP (also called IDL or IDD) or translations to the format of an IDP. They focus very much on their on-the-spot judgment of the driver being sufficiently skilled and experienced to drive safely with respect to his own and others safety.

In case of an accident, if it is minor as a scrape, most people just drive on. If you stop and agree about whatever, you can then continue. It is common that the failing driver pay about 100RMB or so to the other driver, and that is then the end of the matter. If you disagree, you must not move the cars until the police arrive, which can take time. They usually check registration and licenses, and photograph the incident. In case of personal injury, you should stop and offer assistance.

Beware of large luxury imported cars. Sometimes they belong to gangsters or to young immature relatives of senior party or other officials and consider themselves to be above the law, which unfortunately in the still corruption prone China, they often are.

If you suspect that the police has taken bribes from the other party, which happens, make them aware that you know about the Ministry of Supervision (which ruthlessly deals with corruption), the Olympic Committee and the Tourist Complaint Board. It can have a profound effect on procedures. Police in China is usually very helpful and understanding towards visitors.