Can two vehicles pass on a 5-meter-wide road?

[DelDelilah]

Generally, it is possible. The explanation is as follows: Reason: The typical width of a small car is 1.8 meters, while that of a heavy-duty vehicle is 2.5 meters. On rural secondary roads, tertiary roads, and two-lane fourth-class roads, two vehicles can pass simultaneously. The combined width of two heavy-duty vehicles is 5 meters, meaning even on a two-lane fourth-class road, two heavy-duty vehicles can pass at the same time. Additional note: A motor vehicle lane is a road designated for motor vehicles. Typically, motor vehicle lanes are located in the middle of the road. A non-motorized vehicle lane is a lane specifically for non-motorized vehicles powered by human or animal force, as well as for motorized wheelchairs for the disabled and electric bicycles that meet national standards regarding maximum speed, unladen weight, and dimensions, even if they are equipped with a power device.

[McViolet]

Seeing this question reminds me of my younger days driving a taxi. A 5-meter-wide road with two-way traffic can indeed feel tight, but it depends on the situation: common sedans are typically between 1.7 to 1.9 meters wide, so two cars combined would be less than 4 meters wide. Theoretically, there's about 1 meter of spare space, but in reality, you also need to account for the space taken by side mirrors, with each car requiring about 40 cm of safety clearance. If there are electric bikes parked or clutter piled up along the roadside, it really tests your driving skills. I recommend that both vehicles slow down to under 20 km/h and stay as close to the edge as possible when passing each other, especially at night or in rainy conditions where extra caution is needed. I remember once in an old town alley, the side mirrors were just two fingers' width away from scraping the wall—experiences like these make you hyper-aware of your vehicle's dimensions.

[DelTanner]

Last week, my neighbor Lao Wang, who just got his driver's license, asked me about this. Two-way traffic on a 5-meter-wide road is quite common in the city, but the key is what kind of car you're driving. A regular family sedan is about 1.8 meters wide, so two cars side by side would take up 3.6 meters. But you also have to account for the width of the side mirrors and the necessary safety distance. When I drive my Focus, I've noticed that each side mirror adds about 20 centimeters when extended, plus the extra space drivers tend to leave due to nervousness when passing another car—it's just about enough. However, if you encounter a dump truck, you're out of luck—those things can be as wide as 2.5 meters. My advice for beginners in such situations is to turn on the 360-degree camera system. If you're really unsure, just pull over and let the other car pass first.

[CarmenLee]

Having worked in road maintenance for so many years, the design speed for 5-meter-wide roads is always below 30 km/h. Although regulations require a minimum width of 6 meters for two lanes, in reality, 5 meters is barely enough for two small vehicles to pass. Statistically, the median width of family cars is 1.82 meters, with the maximum extension width of side mirrors being about 0.25 meters. When two vehicles pass each other, the actual required width is approximately (1.82 + 0.25) × 2 = 4.14 meters, plus a lateral safety distance of 0.3 meters × 2, resulting in a minimum theoretical width of 4.74 meters. Therefore, straight sections are indeed sufficient, but the risk factor skyrockets when encountering curves, damaged shoulders, or snowy/rainy weather. We would require slow-moving warning signs to be installed on such road sections.