A Practical Guide to Being a Safe Pedestrian in China

《在中国如何当好一个行人参与交通》超详尽双语实用指南

Bottom line first. This guide tells you, in plain American English followed by accurate Chinese, exactly how to walk legally and safely on Chinese roads — and how the rules differ from what you may know from the United States. Every major point includes a China vs. U.S. comparison so an American reader builds the right mental map. All Chinese legal sources cited are current and in force as of October 23, 2026; any proposed reform that is not yet law is clearly marked “draft — not in effect — for reference only.”

先说结论。 本指南以”英文在前、中文在后”的对照方式，清楚说明在中国道路上如何合法、安全地步行，并逐一对比中美规则的实质差异，帮助美国读者建立正确心理预期。文中所引中国法源均截至 2026年10月23日 现行有效；任何尚未施行的修订草案内容，一律标注”修订草案·尚未生效·仅供参考“。

How to read this guide / 阅读说明

English. Each module opens with the English version. We lead with the rule, explain why it exists, then contrast it with U.S. law. Where a number or a state rule matters, we say so and flag “varies by state.”
中文。 每个模块先给英文，紧接中文版本。中文保持法条准确、术语规范，不做口语化失真。

A note on a dangerous assumption: In the U.S., the default is often “cars have the right of way unless you are in a crosswalk.” In China, the law flips that default — motor vehicles must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and “cars yield to people” is a hard legal duty. If you transfer the American habit of stepping into a gap mid-block without yielding, you will be both illegal and far more exposed in China. Keep that single fact in your head the whole time you are here.
一个危险假设的提醒：美国多数州的默认规则是”不在人行横道内，车辆拥有路权”；而在中国，法律恰好相反——机动车行经人行横道须减速、遇行人通过须停车让行，”车让人”是硬性法律义务。 若把美国”在非斑马线处找空档直接横穿、无须让车”的习惯带到中国，你既违法又极度危险。请始终把这一条记在心里。

Module 1 — Your Legal Status and Basic Right-of-Way

模块1　行人的法律地位与基本路权

English. In China, a pedestrian is a full participant in road traffic, not a marginal one. The Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (《中华人民共和国道路交通安全法》, hereafter “RTSL”), in force as the 2021 third amendment, treats pedestrians, non-motor vehicles, and motor vehicles as co-equal subjects of one law. The law tilts protection toward pedestrians in the compensation stage (see Module 9/10), but that tilt has hard limits.

Why it matters: Many foreign visitors assume “I’m on foot, drivers must avoid me, so I’m safe.” That is false and dangerous. You can be fined for violations, bear partial or full fault in a crash, and in extreme cases even face criminal liability (Module 9).

China / 中国. RTSL Article 47 makes yielding to pedestrians a duty: a motor vehicle approaching a crosswalk must slow down, and must stop to yield when a pedestrian is crossing. RTSL Article 76 caps a fault-free driver’s liability at no more than 10% of damages when a pedestrian is at fault — but that 10% floor exists precisely because the law protects the weaker party. Protection is not immunity.

U.S. / 美国. Most states start from the opposite default. Under the Uniform Vehicle Code § 11-502 (a model law most states adopted), drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks — but outside a crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield to vehicles. So in the U.S., stepping into a mid-block gap means you give way; in China, the driver’s yield duty at marked crosswalks is the stronger, more enforced rule. Note also: an unmarked crosswalk (the imaginary extension of sidewalks across an intersection) carries the same weight as a painted one in the U.S. (CVC § 21950 in California; UVC § 11-502). China relies mainly on painted crosswalks and over/underpasses, not on the unmarked-crosswalk fiction.

中文. 在中国，行人是道路交通的完整参与主体，而非边缘角色。《中华人民共和国道路交通安全法》（以下简称《道交法》，现行 2021年第三次修正版）将行人、非机动车、机动车并列为同一部法律的调整对象。法律在赔偿阶段向行人倾斜（见模块9/10），但倾斜有明确边界。

为什么重要：许多外国游客以为”我走路，车必须躲我，所以我安全”。这是错误且危险的。行人会因违法被罚款、在事故中承担部分或全部责任，极端情形下甚至负刑事责任（模块9）。

中国. 《道交法》第四十七条把”礼让行人”定为义务：机动车行经人行横道应当减速，遇行人正在通过应当停车让行。第七十六条规定，行人有过错时，机动车一方无过错的赔偿责任不超过10%——这10%的下限，正源于法律对弱者的保护。但保护不等于免责。

美国. 多数州从相反的默认规则出发。依《统一车辆法》（Uniform Vehicle Code，各州多采用其范本）第11-502条，驾驶人在人行横道内须让行行人；但在人行横道之外，行人须让行车辆。因此在美国，你在路段中间找空档横穿，是”你”让车；而在中国，机动车在斑马线处的让行义务更强、执法更实。另需注意：美国承认无标记人行横道（路口处人行道在路对面的虚拟延伸），其与施划斑马线具有同等法律地位（加州 CVC § 21950；UVC § 11-502）。中国主要以施划斑马线和过街设施为依据，并不倚重”无标记人行横道”这一制度。

Module 2 — Basic Walking Rules

模块2　行人的基本行走规则

English. Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, keep to the roadside. RTSL Article 61: “Pedestrians shall walk within the sidewalk; where there is no sidewalk, walk along the roadside.” RTSL Article 36 establishes separate lanes — motor vehicles, non-motor vehicles, and pedestrians each keep to their own.

Why: A sidewalk is the first physical barrier between you and traffic. At the roadside with no sidewalk, stay tight to the curb and, where possible, face oncoming traffic (walk on the left edge, toward cars) so you can see what is approaching — this is a safety principle, not a statute, but it is strongly advised.

China / 中国. 道交法第六十一条（人行道内行走、无人行道靠路边）；第三十六条（分道通行）。行人不得进入机动车道。列队通行受限：《实施条例》第七十六条——每横列不得超过2人（交通管制路段除外）。

U.S. / 美国. Nearly identical on paper: every state requires pedestrians to use sidewalks where provided, and to walk on the shoulder facing traffic where there is none (UVC § 11-503). The practical difference is enforcement and design — American suburbs often lack continuous sidewalks, pushing pedestrians onto the road edge, whereas Chinese cities generally provide sidewalks but they are frequently obstructed by parking or vendors.

中文. 走人行道；无人行道则靠路边行走。《道交法》第六十一条：”行人应当在人行道内行走，没有人行道的靠路边行走。”第三十六条确立分道通行——机动车、非机动车、行人各行其道。

为什么：人行道是把你与车流隔离的第一道物理防线。无人行道时紧贴路缘；有条件应面向来车方向行走（靠左侧路边逆向走），以便看见来车——这是安全原则而非强制性法条，但强烈建议。

中国. 《道交法》第六十一条、第三十六条。行人不得进入机动车道。列队受限：《实施条例》第七十六条——每横列不得超过2人（交通管制路段除外）。

美国. 字面上几乎一致：各州均要求行人在有人行道时使用人行道，无人行道时靠路肩面向来车行走（UVC § 11-503）。实质差异在执法与设计——美国郊区常缺连续人行道，迫使行人走上路缘；中国城市普遍有人行道，但常被停车或摊贩占用。

补充：人行道实战站位 / Sidewalk positioning in practice. On a Chinese sidewalk, walk on the building side, away from the curb. E-bikes and delivery riders frequently cut in from the curb side and along the sidewalk edge, so keeping your distance from the curb reduces the chance of being clipped. Learn to tell the bicycle lane (non-motor vehicle lane, often marked red/green or with a bike symbol) from the sidewalk — do not drift into the bike lane, where fast e-bikes travel.

中文补充：人行道实战站位. 靠建筑物一侧走，远离路缘：电动车常从路缘一侧窜过；认清自行车道与人行道的分界线，别走到自行车道里。

Module 3 — Crossing Intersections and Roads: The Full Procedure

模块3　过路口 / 横过道路的完整流程

English. Use the crosswalk or an over/underpass. RTSL Article 62: cross at a crosswalk or crossing facility; obey the signal if there is one; where there is no signal, no crosswalk, and no crossing facility, cross only after confirming it is safe. The Regulations on the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law (《道路交通安全法实施条例》, “the Regulations”) Article 75 adds: when crossing a vehicle lane, go straight and do not suddenly speed up or turn back mid-crossing.

Why “straight, no turning back”: A driver’s braking distance is finite. If you reverse mid-road, you re-create a “must emergency-brake” scenario and you bear clear fault in any crash.

Procedure with signals: (1) go to the crosswalk; (2) check the walk signal — green means go; (3) before stepping, look left-right-left; (4) cross briskly, no lingering.
Procedure without signals: pick a spot with clear sightlines, stop at the curb, look left-right-left, step out only after confirming safe distance, cross straight and fast.

China / 中国. 道交法第六十二条；实施条例第七十五条（直行通过，不得在车辆临近时突然加速横穿或中途倒退、折返）。

U.S. / 美国. The U.S. mirrors the “use the crosswalk” duty (UVC § 11-502; CVC § 21955 between signalized intersections). The big difference is enforcement and the yield direction outside the crosswalk: in the U.S., mid-block crossing is itself the violation (jaywalking) in many states, whereas in China the violation is crossing unsafely / outside designated facilities, and drivers still owe a duty of care everywhere. Either way, “don’t dart and don’t reverse” is universal good sense.

中文. 走人行横道或过街设施；有信号灯按信号；无信号、无斑马线、无过街设施时，确认安全后通过。《实施条例》第七十五条补充：横过车行道应直行通过，不得在车辆临近时突然加速横穿或中途倒退、折返。

为什么”直行、不折返”：驾驶人制动距离有限。中途折返等于把已判断”可通行”的驾驶人重新置于”必须紧急制动”的险境，且你在责任认定中属明显过错。

有信号灯流程：(1) 走到斑马线；(2) 看人行横道信号灯——绿灯才行；(3) 进入前左右瞭望；(4) 快速直行，不逗留。
无信号灯流程：选视线开阔处，路缘停步，左—右—左看，确认安全距离后再迈步，直行快速通过。

中国. 《道交法》第六十二条；《实施条例》第七十五条。

美国. 美国同样要求”走人行横道”（UVC § 11-502；加州 CVC § 21955 信号控制路口之间）。最大差异在执法与斑马线外的让行方向：美国多州把路段中间横穿本身定为违法（jaywalking），而中国惩治的是”不安全横穿/不走指定设施”，且驾驶人在任何地方都对行人负有注意义务。无论如何，”不猛冲、不折返”是普世常识。

补充 A — 绿灯不等于安全：转弯车与行人同相位 / Supplement A — Green Light ≠ Safe: Turning Vehicles Share Your Phase

English. A green walk signal is permission to cross, not a guarantee that no vehicle is coming. A very common Chinese intersection layout gives pedestrians a green light at the same time as a green left-turn arrow for vehicles — left-turning cars must sweep across your crosswalk to complete their turn. And under Regulations Article 38, a right-turning vehicle may proceed even on a red light, as long as it does not impede vehicles or pedestrians already in the right of way. So a right-turn car can legally appear from the red-light direction.

What to do: Before stepping off the curb, look specifically for turning cars — left-turners crossing your path and right-turners rolling through on red. Halfway across, keep watching turning traffic, not just oncoming straight traffic. Never assume “red means no cars on that side.”

Why it matters: This is the single biggest source of “I had the green, why did that car hit me” confusion for foreign visitors. The green light protects your priority, not your safety.

China / 中国. 实施条例第三十八条：红灯亮时，右转弯的车辆在不妨碍被放行的车辆、行人通行的情况下，可以通行；机动车信号灯绿灯时左转车须让被放行的直行车辆、行人，但仍要横穿人行横道完成左转。故”行人绿灯”常与”左转绿灯”同相位，左转车穿过斑马线。

U.S. / 美国. The same hazard exists, but the default is reversed and the geometry differs: in the U.S., pedestrians often get a separate “left-turn gap” or exclusive pedestrian phase (walk signal while all vehicle turns are held), and right-turn-on-red is permitted in most states only after yielding to pedestrians. Either way, the rule is identical in spirit: a green light never means “look only straight ahead.” Watch turning cars in both countries.

中文. 绿灯只是”可以走”，不是”没车”。中国路口常见：行人绿灯与左转绿灯同相位，左转车要穿过人行横道；红灯时右转车在不妨碍被放行车辆、行人的情况下也可通行（实施条例第三十八条）。结论：起步前先看左右转弯车，走到一半也要留意转弯车；右转车即使在红灯也有权出现，别以为红灯方向就没车。

Module 4 — Crosswalk Signals, Yellow, and Flashing Yellow

模块4　人行横道信号灯、黄灯、闪光黄灯的准确含义

English. RTSL Article 26: traffic signals are red (stop), green (go), yellow (warning). The Regulations Article 39 defines the crosswalk signal: green = walk; red = do not enter, but if you are already in the crosswalk you may finish crossing or wait at the centerline. Article 38 (for vehicle signals) says a yellow light means vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue. For pedestrians, yellow is a warning that the right to cross is about to switch — do not start entering on yellow. Article 42: a flashing yellow is a continuous blink meaning “use caution, confirm safety, then proceed” — it grants no priority to anyone.

China / 中国. 道交法第二十六条；实施条例第三十九条（红灯禁入、已进入可续行或中心线等候）、第三十八条（黄灯已越线可继续）、第四十二条（闪光黄灯=注意瞭望确认安全）、第四十三条（铁路道口红灯禁行）。

U.S. / 美国. Conceptually parallel: a steady “DON’T WALK” means don’t start (UVC § 11-203; CVC § 21456), but if you are already in the crosswalk you finish. The flashing yellow in the U.S. likewise means caution, not permission (MUTCD). One U.S. twist: a pedestrian hybrid beacon (HAWK) stays dark until pressed, then runs yellow→red→flashing red — a mid-block tool China is only beginning to deploy. Bottom line for Americans: a flashing yellow in China, as at home, never means “just walk.”

中文. 《道交法》第二十六条：信号灯由红（禁行）、绿（通行）、黄（警示）组成。《实施条例》第三十九条界定斑马线信号：绿灯行；红灯禁入，但已在斑马线上的可继续通过或在道路中心线处停留等候。第三十八条（机动车信号）黄灯表示已越停止线的车辆可继续通行。对行人，黄灯是”通行权即将切换”的警示——不要在黄灯时起步进入。第四十二条：闪光黄灯为持续闪烁的黄灯，提示”注意瞭望、确认安全后通过”，不赋予任何一方优先通行权。

美国. 概念平行：稳定”DON’T WALK”表示不要起步（UVC § 11-203；加州 CVC § 21456），但已在斑马线内的应走完。美国闪光黄灯同样表示谨慎而非许可（MUTCD）。一个美国特色：行人混合信标（HAWK）平时熄灭，按下后黄→红→闪红，是路段中间设施，中国才刚开始引入。给美国读者的结论：中国的闪光黄灯和家乡一样，绝不表示”直接走”。

补充：闪烁绿灯（flashing green）的含义 / What a flashing green means. When the crosswalk signal’s green begins to flash, it means: pedestrians already in the crosswalk should finish crossing quickly; pedestrians not yet in must not enter. Do not treat a flashing green as a “hurry and run across” signal — it is a wrap-up cue for those already on the road, not a new permission to start.

中文补充：闪烁绿灯的含义. 人行横道信号绿灯闪烁时：已进入人行横道的行人快速通过，未进入的不得进入。切勿把闪烁绿灯当作”赶紧冲过去”的信号。

Module 5 — Prohibited Conduct for Pedestrians

模块5　行人禁止行为清单

English. RTSL Article 63 prohibits: crossing or sitting/leaning on divider barriers; hitching onto or forcibly stopping vehicles; and other acts that endanger road safety. The Regulations Article 74 prohibits: using skates, skateboards, or similar gliding tools on the road; sitting/lying down, loitering, or playing in the vehicle lane; and chasing vehicles or throwing objects at them.

On phone distraction: there is no standalone national article that makes “looking at your phone while walking” an independent offense. Be precise — we do not claim such a clause exists. However, if phone distraction causes you to ignore a signal or skip the crosswalk, you fall under Articles 61/62 and can be penalized; and distraction is the #1 cause of pedestrian injuries. Some Chinese cities run local crackdowns on “phone zombies.” Local rules vary — check the local rule.
China / 中国. 道交法第六十三条（禁翻越/倚坐隔离设施、扒车拦车）；实施条例第七十四条（禁滑行工具、车行道内坐卧嬉闹、追车抛物击车）。”低头看手机”：现行国家法无专门独立违法条款，已如实说明；若因此闯红灯、不走斑马线，则落入第六十一/六十二条而被处罚。

U.S. / 美国. The U.S. has no general “phone-while-walking” statute either, but jaywalking laws already capture the unsafe act (crossing against signal, etc.). A few U.S. jurisdictions have floated distraction ordinances; varies by state/city. The honest takeaway on both sides: the law may not name the phone, but the crash will not care.
中文. 美国同样无”走路看手机”的普遍专门法条，但 jaywalking 法律已涵盖不安全行为（闯红灯等）。少数美国辖区曾提议分心 ordinance；各州/市不一。两国共同的诚实结论：法律未必点名手机，但事故不会客气。

Module 6 — Special Scenarios

模块6　特殊场景安全策略

English. Eight high-risk scenes, each with the China rule and the why:
1. Getting off a bus / 公交站下车过街: Never dart out in front of the bus (it blocks drivers’ view — the “blind spot trap”). Walk to the rear of the bus where you can see both ways, then cross per Module 3.
2. Garage / driveway exits / 车库出入口: Low sightlines, fast-moving vehicles. Use the dedicated walkway; confirm no vehicle is exiting before crossing.
3. Night / low visibility / 夜间低能见度: Wear light or reflective clothing; enlarge your safety margin severalfold.
4. Rain, snow, fog / 雨雪雾天: Vehicles’ braking distance multiplies; never rush; prefer under/overpasses.
5. Schools and children / 学校周边与儿童: Slow zones, dense children; hold children’s hands, use dedicated crossings.
6. Large vehicles and the right-turn “inner wheel” sweep / 大型车辆盲区与右转内轮差: A turning truck’s rear wheels track inside the front wheels — the body “sweeps” toward the curb. Stay at least 2 meters away; never wait in the painted “right-turn danger zone.”
7. Railway crossings / 铁路道口: RTSL Article 65 — cross only after confirming no train; Regulations Article 43 — two alternating red lights or one red light = stop.
8. Red-light exposure screens and traffic assistants / 闯红灯曝光屏与交通协管: In many Chinese cities, intersections are equipped with facial-recognition screens that photograph pedestrians who run red lights and display the images publicly; traffic assistants (交通协管员) also stand by to warn and stop jaywalkers on the spot. We state only that this practice exists in many cities — we do not list specific city names; local rules vary, so check the rule where you are. Treat any such screen or assistant as a real notice/enforcement mechanism, not a suggestion.

中国新增（曝光屏与协管）: 多城市路口设有人脸识别闯红灯曝光屏，抓拍并公示；另有交通协管员现场劝阻。仅说明”多城市有此做法”，不列具体城市名单，具体以当地现行规定为准。

China / 中国. 道交法第六十五条；实施条例第四十三条。大型车右转内轮差是行人被卷入的主要场景，远离至少2米。

U.S. / 美国. Same hazards exist; U.S. drivers must stop for school buses with flashing red lights (federal/state law), and ADA requires accessible pedestrian signals and curb ramps at crossings — a design-layer protection China is rolling out but has not yet made universal. The inner-wheel-sweep danger is identical; Americans should apply the same “stay away from turning trucks” rule here.
中文. 八类高危场景，规则与原因同上。中国：道交法第六十五条、实施条例第四十三条；远离右转大车至少2米。

美国. hazard 相同；美国驾驶人在校车轮闪红灯时必须停车（联邦/州法），ADA 要求路口设无障碍人行信号与路缘坡道——这是设计层的保护，中国正在推广但尚未普及。内轮差危险完全一致，美国读者应同样”远离右转大车”。

补充 C — 乡间道路 / Supplement C — Rural Roads

English. Outside cities, roads often have no sidewalk, no crosswalk, no streetlights, and higher vehicle speeds. Night walking on rural roads is extremely dangerous — avoid it if you can. If you must walk: stay on the roadside, face oncoming traffic (so you see headlights early), and wear reflective or light-colored clothing. Assume drivers cannot see you until the last second.

China / 中国. 乡间道路：无人行道、无斑马线、无路灯、车速快。夜间乡间行走极危险，尽量避免；必须走时靠路边、面向来车、穿反光衣物。无专门法条，属安全原则。

U.S. / 美国. The same logic applies on U.S. rural roads (which also often lack sidewalks and lighting); U.S. drivers expect pedestrians even less on open highways, so the “be visible, face traffic” rule is doubly important. Some U.S. states even prohibit pedestrians on certain limited-access highways — varies by state.

中文. 乡间道路：无人行道、无斑马线、无路灯、车速快。夜间极危险，尽量避免；必须走时靠路边、面向来车、穿反光衣物。属安全原则，无专门法条。美国乡间道路同理，且各州对特定高速是否禁行行人规定不一。

Module 7 — Vulnerable Groups

模块7　特殊人群

English. RTSL Article 64: preschool children, and persons with mental or intellectual disabilities who cannot recognize or control their conduct, must be accompanied by a guardian or responsible person on the road. Blind persons using a cane or other guidance means have a right to be yielded to by vehicles.

Why: These groups cannot defend or predict for themselves; the law supplies the missing capacity through accompaniment (for the dependent) and through a yield duty (for the blind). But protection presupposes the dependent person is actually supervised — an unsupervised child or patient on the roadway remains dangerous and may implicate the guardian.

China / 中国. 道交法第六十四条（学龄前儿童、精神/智力障碍者须由监护人带领；盲人使用盲杖通行，车辆应当避让）。

U.S. / 美国. The U.S. reaches the same human goal through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): curb ramps, detectable warning surfaces, and audible/accessible pedestrian signals are required so blind and mobility-impaired pedestrians can navigate independently. The philosophical contrast is interesting: China mandates accompaniment and a vehicle-yield duty; the U.S. mandates infrastructure that lets the disabled person walk alone. Both aim at safety; the mechanisms differ. Note also that U.S. drivers must yield to blind pedestrians with canes or guide dogs under state law.
中文. 《道交法》第六十四条。美国以 《美国残疾人法》（ADA） 实现同样目标：路缘坡道、警示触感条、有声人行信号，保障视障与行动不便者独立通行。理念差异有趣：中国规定”须被带领+车辆避让”；美国规定”无障碍设施让残疾人可独行”。机制不同，目标一致。美国各州法亦要求驾驶人避让持盲杖或导盲犬的盲人。

Module 8 — Interacting with Vehicles, E-Bikes, and Delivery Riders

模块8　与机动车、非机动车、外卖电动车、电动自行车互动

English. Vehicles must yield to you at crosswalks (RTSL Art. 47) — but yielding is not a license to walk carelessly (Module 11). Non-motor vehicles (bicycles, e-bikes) often ride on sidewalks, against traffic, or too fast; keep alert on the curb side. Delivery and e-bikes are a leading cause of pedestrian injury in Chinese cities — they run red lights, ride against traffic, and speed. Stay clear of their habitual paths; at intersections watch for one “shooting” out from behind or the side.

China / 中国. 道交法第四十七条（车让人）。外卖/快递电动车为赶时间常闯红灯、逆行、超速，是城市行人受伤主要致害方。
【修订草案·尚未生效·仅供参考】 现行《道交法》第五十八条规定电动自行车在非机动车道内最高时速不得超过十五公里；2025年提出的修订草案拟将该限速上调至二十公里，并拟新增”驾驶人和乘车人应按规定戴安全头盔”等要求。这些尚非现行法。

U.S. / 美国. E-bikes are regulated state-by-state (federal Consumer Product Safety Commission sets a 20 mph / 28 mph tier, but varies by state on where they may ride). American cities see the same delivery-rider risk (e-scooters, food delivery). The universal rule: assume the rider did not see you; keep your own safety in your own hands.
中文. 中国：外卖/快递电动车风险高。修订草案（未生效）拟将电动自行车限速由15提至20km/h并拟要求戴头盔。美国：电动自行车各州监管不一（联邦 CPSC 设20/28 mph 分级，但各州不一），配送骑手风险同样存在。普世规则：假设对方没看见你，把安全握在自己手里。

Module 9 — Consequences of Pedestrian Violations

模块9　行人违法行为的后果

English. Fines. RTSL Article 89: a pedestrian violation draws a warning or a fine of RMB 5 to 50. That is the national baseline — and it is strikingly small next to U.S. figures. Local amounts vary — see the table below.

Late fees / 滞纳金. The Administrative Penalty Law (《行政处罚法》) Article 72: if you don’t pay on time, a surcharge of 3% per day accrues, capped at the original amount; the agency may also apply to court for enforcement.

Credit / 征信. We could not confirm a unified national rule that unpaid traffic fines automatically hit your credit record. Some localities feed unpaid administrative penalties into a social-credit system — this is local and variable; verify locally.

Points / 记分. The Measures for the Management of Punitive Points for Road Traffic Violations (《道路交通安全违法行为记分管理办法》, Ministry of Public Security Order No. 163) apply to motor vehicle drivers only — not pedestrians. Pedestrians are never assessed points. (Common myth, corrected here.)

Criminal liability / 刑事责任 — can a pedestrian commit “traffic manslaughter”? Yes. Criminal Law Article 133 (刑法第一百三十三条) defines the crime of causing a traffic accident; the SPC interpretation (法释〔2000〕33号) Article 1 expressly includes non-transport workers (i.e., pedestrians). Threshold (Art. 2): one death or three serious injuries, with primary or full fault. Real, effective cases (verified case numbers where available): Shanghai — (2024)沪0107刑初594号 (Putuo District Court): a pedestrian ran a red light, struck an e-bike rider who was then run over and died; the pedestrian held primary fault and got 2 years 6 months for the crime (escape was an aggravating factor). Guangdong (Shixing County) — media-reported case, case number unverified: a pedestrian darted across, caused a motorcyclist’s death, held full fault, got 2 years 6 months, suspended 3 years; we cite this as a reported case and do not assert a verified case number. The lesson: not “the weak are always right,” but “whoever breaks the law bears the responsibility.”

China–U.S. Penalty Comparison Table / 中美处罚差异表

China / 中国. 道交法第八十九条（警告或5–50元）；行政处罚法第七十二条（逾期每日3%加罚、封顶一倍）；记分管理办法仅适用于机动车驾驶人；刑法第一百三十三条+法释〔2000〕33号（行人可构罪）。罚款”各地有差异”：国家基准5–50元；北京统一10元；深圳20–100元分档（不走人行道/未走人行横道处警告或20元，闯红灯、跨隔离设施处50元，引发事故或屡犯最高100元）；上海首违多警告、多次20元；广东等地一般为警告或小额（具体以当地现行规定为准）。

中文补充（刑事案例）： 上海案已核实案号 (2024)沪0107刑初594号（普陀区法院）：行人闯红灯撞倒电动车骑行者致其被碾轧死亡，行人负主要责任，犯交通肇事罪判有期徒刑二年六个月（逃逸为加重情节）。广东始兴案为媒体报道案例，案号未核实：行人猛穿致摩托车驾驶人死亡、负全责，判有期徒刑二年六个月、缓刑三年。两案均说明”谁违法谁担责”，行人亦可构成交通肇事罪。

U.S. / 美国. Penalties vary enormously by state. Verified examples: California — CVC § 21955/21954; under AB 2147 (Freedom to Walk Act, eff. Jan 1, 2023) police generally cannot cite a pedestrian for a safe mid-block crossing, but a dangerous one still draws a citation with a base fine ~$196 (≈$200+ with fees). Virginia — enacted 2020, eff. Mar 1, 2021 (Va. Code § 46.2-923/§ 46.2-926): jaywalking became a secondary offense; officers cannot stop a pedestrian for it. Nevada — AB 403, eff. Jul 1, 2021 (NRS § 484B.287): reclassified from misdemeanor to a civil penalty ≤ $100. New York — NYC Local Law 98 of 2024, eff. Jun 26, 2025: no fine in NYC; elsewhere in NY, Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1152/§ 1800 allows up to $150 / $300 / $450 by repeat offense. Hawaii — HPD cites $130–$180 (HRS § 291C-73). Mississippi’s $25–50 figure could not be independently verified — verify locally. The often-cited “New York up to $500” was not confirmed by current sources (historical ceilings differ); use the verified schedule above.
中文. 处罚各州差异极大。已核实：加州（CVC § 21955/21954；AB 2147《自由步行法》2023-01-01生效，安全的中段横穿一般不得被查，但危险横穿仍可罚，基础罚款约196美元，加费后约200余美元）；弗吉尼亚（2020年立法、2021-03-01生效，Va. Code § 46.2-923/§ 46.2-926，改为次要违法，警察不得因之拦截行人）；内华达（AB 403，2021-07-01生效，NRS § 484B.287，由轻罪改为不超过100美元民事罚款）；纽约（纽约市 Local Law 98 of 2024，2025-06-26生效，市内不再罚款；市外纽约州法允许最高150/300/450美元按次数递增）；夏威夷（檀香山警局 cite 130–180美元）。密西西比”25–50美元”未能独立核实，请以当地为准；常见的”纽约最高500美元”未被现行来源确认，请以上述已核实档为准。

补充 B — 被拦下、被罚款时怎么办 / Supplement B — What to Do If You Are Stopped or Fined

English. If a traffic officer (交警) stops you for a pedestrian violation: cooperate, do not argue or run; show your ID (a passport for foreign visitors). A first offense is most often a warning. If a ticket (罚单) is issued, pay per the instructions printed on it — usually a QR code or a designated payment location. If you do not have a Chinese payment tool (Alipay / WeChat Pay / a bank app), ask the officer how to pay another way — we have not verified the exact current procedure for foreign visitors without local payment apps, so we will not invent one; follow the ticket’s printed instructions and the officer’s guidance. Keep the receipt.

China / 中国. 配合执法、不争吵、不逃跑；出示身份证件（外国游客出示护照）；首违多为警告。罚单缴纳按罚单标注办理（二维码或指定地点）；无中国支付工具时向民警问清替代办法——支付细节须核实当前做法，本文未核实，故不编流程，按罚单标注与民警指引办理。保存凭证。

Module 10 — After an Accident: Response and Protecting Your Rights

模块10　交通事故后应对与维权

English. Four steps at the scene: (1) Help the injured — call 120; (2) Call 122 (traffic police) or 110; preserve the scene; (3) Photograph the whole scene, license plates, impact point, signal state, markings; get witness contacts; (4) Cooperate truthfully — never flee (fleeing aggravates fault and can add criminal exposure).

Liability split / 责任划分. RTSL Article 76(2): when a motor vehicle hits a pedestrian/non-motor vehicle — if the pedestrian is fault-free, the vehicle pays in full (via compulsory insurance, then commercial insurance, then the tortfeasor per Civil Code Art. 1213); if the pedestrian is at fault, the vehicle’s liability is reduced proportionally; if the vehicle is fault-free, it still pays no more than 10%; if the pedestrian intentionally struck the vehicle (e.g., insurance fraud), the vehicle pays nothing. Damages follow Civil Code Arts. 1179 (medical care, lost income, disability/death compensation) and 1173 (fault reduces recovery).

New SPC Interpretation (II) / 最新《解释(二)》— in force. The Interpretation (II) on Several Issues Concerning the Trial of Road Traffic Accident Compensation Cases (《最高人民法院关于审理道路交通事故损害赔偿案件适用法律若干问题的解释(二)》, 法释〔2026〕9号, effective June 30, 2026 — currently in force) changes two rules that matter to pedestrians:
– “Door-opening kill” (开门杀), Art. 2: If a passenger opens a door and injures a pedestrian/cyclist, that liability counts as the vehicle’s liability. The victim can claim from compulsory (交强险) and commercial (商业三者险) insurance in that order; the insurer may not refuse on the ground that “the door-opener wasn’t the insured driver.” After insurance pays, the passenger/driver bear the remainder; the insurer’s right to recover from the passenger is barred (except where the passenger acted intentionally). For you: if a parked car’s door hits you, you can claim directly from that car’s insurance — and you should keep a safe lateral distance from parked cars, anticipating doors.
– “Good Samaritan ride” (好意同乘), Art. 3: For a non-commercial vehicle giving a free ride, the user/driver may claim a reduction of liability, unless intentional or grossly negligent; a traffic-police “primary fault” finding does not automatically equal gross negligence — courts decide on the whole record. For you: this mainly governs passenger claims; as an injured third-party pedestrian your claim against the at-fault party is unaffected.

China / 中国. 道交法第七十六条；民法典第一千一百七十九条、第一千一百七十三条、第一千二百一十三条；法释〔2026〕9号第二条（开门杀）、第三条（好意同乘），2026-06-30施行，现行有效。

U.S. / 美国. The U.S. framework is similar in spirit (comparative negligence; mandatory auto insurance in most states) but procedural: call 911, document, and rely on personal-injury lawyers and your state’s comparative-fault rule (pure in CA/NY; modified in many states). One contrast: U.S. “door-opening” crashes are often charged under “dooring” statutes (e.g., CVC § 22517 in California — a driver/passenger must check before opening a door into traffic). The Chinese Interpretation (II) Art. 2 reaches the same victim-protective result through insurance ordering. Know your state’s rule — varies by state.
中文. 美国框架精神相似（比较过失、多数州强制车险），但程序不同：拨打911、取证、依赖人身伤害律师与本州比较过失规则（加州/纽约为纯粹比较过失，多州为修正型）。美国”开门杀”多依各州”dooring”法条（如加州 CVC § 22517——开车门前须观察）。中国《解释(二)》第二条通过保险顺位实现同等保护。请知悉本州规则——各州不一。

补充：报警求助的语言障碍 / Language barrier when calling for help. 120 (ambulance) and 122 (traffic police) do not reliably provide English service. Practical steps: carry a card with your hotel address written in Chinese; use a translation app to show key Chinese phrases; ask a passerby to make the call for you; and state your location (the Chinese place name) first — location matters more than describing your condition.

补充：外国游客善后清单 / Foreign tourist aftermath checklist. In addition to the four steps above, after an accident: (1) obtain the Accident Responsibility Determination (交通事故认定书); (2) keep all medical receipts and records; (3) report the incident to your own travel-insurance provider promptly; (4) if needed, contact your country’s embassy or consulate. We list only the steps — we do not promise any insurance coverage, which depends on your policy.

中文补充：报警语言障碍. 120、122 不一定提供英文服务。实操：随身带写有酒店地址中文的卡片；用翻译软件出示中文；请路人帮忙打电话；说清地点（中文地名）比说清病情更优先。

中文补充：外国游客善后清单. 拿到事故认定书；保存全部医疗票据；及时报自己的旅行保险；必要时联系本国使领馆。仅列事项，不承诺保险赔付范围。

Module 11 — Common Misconceptions, Clarified

模块11　常见误区澄清

English.
– Myth: “Cars must yield to me, so I can cross anywhere.” False. RTSL Art. 47’s yield duty presupposes you are crossing lawfully. Run a red light or vault a barrier and you are both illegal and at fault (see Module 1 cases).
– Myth: “The crosswalk makes me safe.” False. You still obey its signal (Module 4); large-vehicle blind spots and door-opening kills strike pedestrians on crosswalks too.
– Myth: “I’m a pedestrian, so I’m never at fault / never jailed.” False. You can be fined, bear fault, and — at primary fault with death/serious injury — be convicted under Criminal Law Art. 133 (Module 9).
– Myth: “Looking at my phone isn’t illegal.” Partly true: no standalone national clause names it, but the unsafe act it causes (ignoring signals, skipping crosswalks) is illegal, and it is the #1 injury cause.
– Myth: “A flashing yellow means go.” False. It means caution-only, no priority (Module 4).
China / 中国. 误区一”车让人=我可随意横穿”——错（第四十七条以依法通行为前提）；误区二”斑马线内绝对安全”——错；误区三”行人永不担责/坐牢”——错（刑法133）；误区四”看手机不违法”——部分真（无专门条款）但分心致险违法且是一号诱因；误区五”闪光黄灯=可行”——错。
U.S. / 美国. American readers should invert one reflex: at home you may assume “no crosswalk = I yield.” In China the stronger rule is “marked crosswalk = cars yield to me,” but that never suspends your own duty of care. Don’t import the “mid-block dash” habit.
中文. 美国读者应反转一个反射：在美可假定”无斑马线=我让车”；在中国更强规则是”有斑马线=车让我”，但这绝不免除你自身的注意义务。勿把”路段中间猛穿”的习惯带过来。

Module 12 — Ten-Point Safety Mnemonic (Bilingual)

模块12　行人安全十条速记口诀（中英双语）

English — keep it simple:
1. Use the sidewalk; face traffic if none.
2. Cross only at the crosswalk or pass.
3. Obey the walk signal — green means go.
4. Look left-right-left; then step.
5. Go straight; never reverse mid-crossing.
6. Avoid turning trucks — stay 2 meters clear.
7. No phones, no skates, no barrier-hopping.
8. At night, wear something bright or reflective.
9. Kids and the blind need a hand or a yield.
10. If hit, call 120/122, photograph, don’t flee.
Bottom line: yielding is mutual; obeying the law is your own safety.

中文 — 朗朗上口：

一走人行二看灯，斑马绿灯才前行；
三不翻栏四不抢，红灯亮起莫逞能；
五要直行不折返，车近加速最坑人；
六避大车右转区，内轮差里会吞身；
七忌路上滑与卧，手机分心是大忌；
八过路口左右望，先停再看再通行；
九护老幼与视障，带领避让莫脱管；
十遇事故先救人，报警取证记车牌。
礼让是相互的，守法保命是自己的。

List of Legal Sources / 参考法源清单

Appendix — Common Chinese Phrase Card / 附录：常用中文短语卡

Each phrase is given as Chinese characters, pinyin, and English. ×× stands for the destination name.

以上短语均按”中文 / 拼音 / 英文”三列呈现；×× 处填目的地名称。