Can You Drive on the Emergency Lane?
2 Answers
You cannot drive on the emergency lane, as doing so is illegal. Only in emergency situations are vehicles allowed to drive or park on the emergency lane. Introduction to the Emergency Lane: The emergency lane on highways refers to the part of the road adjacent to the right-side traffic lane, including the hard shoulder, with a width of more than 3 meters and an effective length of 30 meters or more, which can accommodate the parking needs of motor vehicles. Parking Guidelines: If you encounter an unavoidable problem such as a vehicle breakdown, you should park the vehicle in the emergency stopping area, turn on the hazard warning lights, and place a warning sign 150 meters behind the vehicle. During nighttime, rain, fog, or other adverse weather conditions, you should also turn on the side marker lights, tail lights, and rear fog lights. All passengers must move to a safe area, and if necessary, promptly call the highway emergency number to request assistance.
I've been driving for over twenty years, and the emergency lane is absolutely not to be used casually. It's a dedicated passage for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks. If you occupy it, you block the path of rescue. In case of an accident or fire, time is life, and a delay could mean life or death. I still remember the highway accident reported in the news last year—because someone used the emergency lane, the ambulance arrived half an hour late, and the injured person passed away. This lane is designed to be narrow and prone to accidents. If you drive into it, especially at high speed, you might rear-end a stopped vehicle, which is extremely dangerous. The law also strictly regulates this. In China, illegally occupying the emergency lane incurs a fine of 200 yuan and 6 demerit points. The fine is a small matter, but the demerit points seriously affect your license—twice, and you'll have to retake the test. So in daily driving, we need to be patient. If there's traffic, just wait. Don’t risk saving a few minutes. Safe driving isn’t just for yourself but for everyone on the road. Following the rules brings an extra layer of peace of mind.
