Can Scooters Go on Highways?
3 Answers
According to Article 67 of China's Road Traffic Safety Law, pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles, tractors, wheeled special-purpose mechanical vehicles, articulated buses, full-trailer towing vehicles, and other motor vehicles with a designed maximum speed of less than 70 km/h are not allowed to enter highways. This means motorcycles with speeds exceeding 70 km/h can go on highways. Relevant information about scooters is as follows: Introduction One: Scooters are basically equipped with continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic clutches, similar to electric mopeds, without gear designs. After starting, you only need to twist the throttle to move, and releasing the throttle will gradually slow down until stopping. Additionally, scooter wheels are smaller than those of other vehicles, and the transmission is mostly belt-driven, commonly referred to as women's motorcycles. Introduction Two: The term 'scooter' refers to the wide footboard between the seat and the handlebars, allowing riders to comfortably place their feet on it, much like sitting on a chair, without needing to straddle the bike as with other types of motorcycles.
I often ride a scooter around the city, but it's absolutely not allowed on the highway. Cars on the highway drive too fast, with an average speed exceeding 100 km/h, while scooters only go around 50 km/h. The speed difference is huge, and even a passing truck can easily knock you over. Plus, the strong wind resistance makes it hard to maintain balance—just a bit of crosswind can cause a rollover accident. Once, while waiting for a friend near a suburban highway entrance, I saw a guy on a scooter get pulled over by traffic police and fined for violating traffic laws. Actually, Chinese law clearly states that motor vehicles with a design speed below 70 km/h are prohibited from entering highways. Most scooters don’t meet this standard and are classified as low-speed vehicles. Safety comes first—getting into an accident could mean not just a fine of a few hundred yuan but also injuries or worse.
From the perspective of traffic regulations, riding a scooter on the highway is basically illegal. I understand that China's Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates that only motor vehicles with a design speed of over 70 km/h are allowed on highways. However, most scooters under 50cc have a maximum speed of just over 50 km/h, making it impossible to keep up with highway traffic. If you force your way onto the highway and are caught by traffic police, you will face a fine starting from 200 yuan, possible points deduction, and more seriously, increased accident risks. Highways have heavy traffic and high speeds, while scooters have poor stability—even a slight wobble can cause a rollover. Additionally, electric scooters are even more prohibited, as they are legally classified as non-motor vehicles and banned from highways. If you must travel long distances, it is advisable to switch to a regular car or high-speed train, which are both safe and efficient.
