Can MINI cars drive on highways?
2 Answers
BMW's MINI models are capable of highway driving. Any vehicle with a design speed exceeding 70 kilometers per hour is permitted to operate on expressways. Here are supplementary regulations: Article 79 of the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" states: When entering an expressway from an on-ramp, motor vehicles must activate the left turn signal and merge into the lane without obstructing vehicles already traveling on the expressway. When exiting an expressway, motor vehicles must activate the right turn signal, enter the deceleration lane, reduce speed, and then exit. Article 80 specifies: On expressways, when a vehicle's speed exceeds 100 km/h, it must maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from the preceding vehicle in the same lane. When speed is below 100 km/h, this distance may be appropriately reduced, but the minimum following distance shall not be less than 50 meters.
I just drove my Mini Cooper back from a cross-province highway trip. As long as this compact car passes annual inspection and has proper license plates, it fully meets highway regulations. However, it's worth noting that the Mini's lightweight body and short wheelbase make it feel slightly unstable at speeds above 120 km/h. Last week when I changed lanes at 130 km/h, the steering wheel noticeably floated, which scared me into slowing down immediately. I recommend maintaining around 110 km/h for optimal stability, especially in crosswind sections where you should grip the wheel firmly. Avoid driving parallel with other vehicles, keep extra distance from trucks, and remember to use fog lights in rainy conditions. The small fuel tank is another headache - I have to refuel every 200 kilometers, so always check tire pressure and coolant before long trips.
