Can You Drive on the Highway with a Mattress on Your Car?
3 Answers
It is not recommended to use a car mattress during high-speed driving, as traffic police may conduct inspections. Here are some precautions for highway driving: Pre-Drive Inspection: Before getting in the car, ensure to inspect the vehicle. Check for any potential safety hazards, with a focus on the car tires. Speed and Lane Changing: Maintain a safe driving speed. Keep your speed within the posted limits and ensure it is safe for the conditions. Stay in the designated lane—there are separate lanes for large and small vehicles, so avoid occupying a lane for extended periods. Prevent fatigue driving. When driving on the highway, do not drive continuously for more than four hours. If you feel fatigued, rest at a highway service area as soon as possible. Use high and low beams appropriately during nighttime highway driving. Use high beams whenever possible on unlit highway sections. Signal lane changes early. Whether overtaking or changing lanes, always use your turn signals well in advance to alert vehicles in front and behind you, ensuring safe driving.
I have personal experience with driving on the highway with a mattress on the car roof, and I must warn everyone. Once, a friend of mine casually placed a mattress on the roof while moving and drove on the highway. Halfway through, the wind blew it up, nearly hitting a nearby truck. High speeds and strong winds make large mattresses act like sails—if not secured properly, they can fly off instantly, causing serious accidents. At best, you might damage your car and face fines; at worst, you could injure people, damage vehicles, and end up paying hefty compensation—it’s just not worth it. If you must transport a mattress, first measure its dimensions to ensure it doesn’t exceed width, length, or weight limits. Chinese regulations stipulate that the height from the car roof should not exceed 50 cm, and the width should not extend beyond the vehicle’s body. Second, use professional straps to secure it multiple times, ensuring the middle and all four corners are tightly fastened. Also, choose a calm, sunny day for the trip, keep your speed below 80 km/h, and constantly check your rearview mirror to avoid obstructing your view. Safe driving is a responsibility—don’t risk trouble to save a little money.
I've been paying attention to traffic regulations for a long time, and putting a mattress on the highway is actually quite risky. According to road traffic laws, vehicle cargo must be securely fastened, not exceeding size limits or affecting safety. Otherwise, you may be stopped and penalized by traffic police on the highway. Mattresses are usually too thick and wide, easily exceeding limits. In case of an incident, you could face fines of over 200 yuan, points deduction, or even license suspension. I've checked myself—the ideal approach is to first verify your car roof's load capacity. If the mattress is too large, don't force it; smaller ones might be manageable if tightly secured. However, the safest option is to use a dedicated roof rack or simply rent a transport vehicle. Don't overlook details, like ensuring the tie-down straps are strong and checking for looseness during stops. Avoid highway driving on windy days. Maintaining public safety is everyone's responsibility—don't risk major consequences for minor gains.
