What should I do if the car I'm driving is involved in a road collision? I'm not Chinese, but I do have a Chinese driving license.

Whether the driver is Chinese or Western makes no difference. The driver should immediately turn on the vehicle's hazard lights to warn other drivers of the accident and to protect the scene. If a driver or passenger is injured, call 120 for emergency medical aid. If not, dial 122 to connect to the traffic accident hotline. Police will arrive to present an accident report and establish who is responsible. You should check as early as possible to see whether the other driver has a license and whether the vehicle is insured (it is not advised that motorists note down each others' details). If the other driver does not have a driving license or the vehicle has no license plate, or if you believe the other driver is drunk or someone is injured, the vehicles should not be moved. With minor accidents, you can move the vehicles to a safe place so as not to block traffic.

You need to report any accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, providing them with your driving license, policy details and a police accident report. Claims settlement centers will take photographs of the vehicle and decide how much to pay out. The vehicle will be repaired in a shop chosen by the insurance company. If the accident is not major, the two parties can fill in a quick settlement report after police have clearly divided the responsibility and apply to their insurance companies.

How much alcohol am I legally allowed to drink before driving? Also, what punishment would I face if police caught me over the limit?

In Beijing, people are not allowed to drink any alcohol before driving. Regulations issued in April 2010 state a driver is guilty of drunken driving if his blood-alcohol level is equal to or above 20 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood but under 80 mg/100 ml. Drunken drivers will lose 12 points from their driving license - an automatic ban - and will be required to take a driving examination before they can legally get behind the wheel again. The drivers also receive a fine of 500 yuan, while their compulsory insurance premiums will rise. If a driver is found to have a blood-alcohol level equal to or above 80 mg/100 ml, they will be detained for a maximum of 15 days and fined 1,500 yuan. Their driving license will also automatically become void.

Needadvice from METRO's legal experts? E-mail your questions to metrobeijing@chinadaily.com.cn. Please give as many details about your situation as possible.

(China Daily 04/20/2011)