Can I drive on the highway during the probationary period?
2 Answers
During the probationary period, you can drive on the highway, but you must be accompanied by a driver who has held a driving license for the corresponding or higher vehicle type for more than three years. Otherwise, if you are caught driving alone on the highway, you will be fined between 20 and 200 yuan and ordered to leave the highway at the nearest exit. Here are the reasons why you cannot drive alone on the highway during the probationary period: 1. Insufficient driving experience: The psychological resilience is not strong enough, and you may not be able to calmly handle emergency situations such as sudden braking by the vehicle in front or illegal lane changes by the vehicle in front. Applying too much force at once can easily cause the vehicle to lose control. 2. Slow driving in the lane: When the speed increases, it is inevitable to feel afraid, and the speed is often reduced. If you occupy the fast lane and drive slowly, it is also very dangerous. 3. Not checking the rearview mirror: As a beginner, if you haven’t developed this habit, you may easily forget to check the rearview mirror when changing lanes.
After getting my driver's license, I was thinking about driving on the highway during the probationary period. Later, I specifically checked the traffic regulations and found out it's not allowed. The law states that the first year after obtaining a license is the probationary period, during which you cannot drive alone on the highway. You must have an experienced driver with more than three years of driving experience sitting in the passenger seat to supervise, otherwise it's a violation. If caught by traffic police, you'll be fined 200 yuan and have 1 point deducted from your license. Worse yet, the probationary period might be extended, which is quite troublesome. I think this rule makes sense—new drivers lack experience, and highways have fast speeds and frequent lane changes, making accidents more likely. For now, I'm practicing driving in the city until I'm more skilled, and I'll wait until after the probationary period to venture onto the highway—it feels safer that way.
