Road narrowingChina
16. Road narrowing
A road narrowing is a section where the available width of the road or carriageway becomes smaller. The narrowing may occur on both sides, on one side only, or because one or more traffic lanes end.
Drivers should reduce speed, observe approaching and adjacent traffic, maintain sufficient lateral clearance and merge when necessary. Warning signs do not always determine priority, so drivers must follow any priority signs, lane markings and local traffic rules.
Wikimedia.org • 罗布泊 • CC BY
What does a road-narrowing warning mean in China?
Chinese traffic controls can warn of a narrowing roadway or reduction in lanes. Read the layout and any separate priority control; the implementing Regulations also specify alternating merging when lanes reduce in queued or slow-moving traffic.
🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text
🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text
🔗 szjj.sz.gov.cn • Shenzhen Traffic Police — official sign categories and their functions
🔗 openstd.samr.gov.cn • SAMR — current GB 5768.2-2022 status, not the full standard
🔗 std.sacinfo.org.cn • SAC — published first sign-standard amendment, effective 1 January 2026
Warning for a road narrowing.
English • Traffic sign 警7 • Road narrows on both sides. Slow down and take care when meeting other vehicles.
中文 • 警7 • 两侧变窄。 前方路面从两侧变窄,应减速并注意会车。
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Openstd.samr.gov.cn • 国家标准全文公开 • GB 5768.2-2022(含第1号修改单)
🔗 Upload.wikimedia.org • 标准原文镜像 • PDF第80页
SVG source: Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China • Public domain • Original revision 2017-05-30. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Artwork verified against Openstd.samr.gov.cn • official published diagram 警7.
Warning for a road narrowing on the left.
English • Traffic sign 警7 • Road narrows on the left. Slow down and watch vehicle positioning.
中文 • 警7 • 左侧变窄。 前方路面从左侧变窄,应减速并注意车辆位置。
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Openstd.samr.gov.cn • 国家标准全文公开 • GB 5768.2-2022(含第1号修改单)
🔗 Upload.wikimedia.org • 标准原文镜像 • PDF第80页
SVG source: Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China • Public domain • Original revision 2017-05-30. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Artwork verified against Openstd.samr.gov.cn • official published diagram 警7.
Warning for a road narrowing on the right.
English • Traffic sign 警7 • Road narrows on the right. Slow down and watch vehicle positioning.
中文 • 警7 • 右侧变窄。 前方路面从右侧变窄,应减速并注意车辆位置。
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Openstd.samr.gov.cn • 国家标准全文公开 • GB 5768.2-2022(含第1号修改单)
🔗 Upload.wikimedia.org • 标准原文镜像 • PDF第80页
SVG source: Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China • Public domain • Original revision 2017-05-30. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Artwork verified against Openstd.samr.gov.cn • official published diagram 警7.
Does a narrowing warning give you priority in China?
No. A warning describes the reduced width, rather than allocating priority or setting a numerical speed limit. Follow any separate priority signs, signals and meeting rules, and slow enough to pass safely or wait before entering.
🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text
🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text
🔗 szjj.sz.gov.cn • Shenzhen Traffic Police — official sign categories and their functions
🔗 openstd.samr.gov.cn • SAMR — current GB 5768.2-2022 status, not the full standard
🔗 std.sacinfo.org.cn • SAC — published first sign-standard amendment, effective 1 January 2026
What should you do if traffic lanes merge at a narrowing in China?
Where lanes reduce and traffic is queued or moving slowly, China’s implementing Regulations require vehicles to enter the reduced section alternately, one from each lane. Do not turn that congestion-specific rule into priority for every ordinary lane change.
🔗 jtgl.beijing.gov.cn • Beijing Traffic Police — full Road Traffic Safety Law, 2021 amended text
🔗 samr.gov.cn • SAMR — full implementing Regulations, 2017 amended text
🔗 szjj.sz.gov.cn • Shenzhen Traffic Police — official sign categories and their functions
🔗 openstd.samr.gov.cn • SAMR — current GB 5768.2-2022 status, not the full standard
🔗 std.sacinfo.org.cn • SAC — published first sign-standard amendment, effective 1 January 2026

Traffic rules
China