Can You Park on the Emergency Lane of a Highway?
2 Answers
Parking on the emergency lane of a highway is allowed only under two circumstances: 1. If the driver is unable to continue driving due to a sudden illness while on the highway, stopping the vehicle on the emergency lane is legal and will not incur penalties; 2. If the vehicle suddenly breaks down or becomes undrivable while on the highway, using the emergency lane in such cases will not result in penalties. If you encounter an unsolvable issue like a breakdown, you should park the vehicle in the emergency stopping area, turn on the hazard warning lights, place a warning sign 150 meters behind the vehicle, and during nighttime, rain, or fog, also turn on the side marker lights, tail lights, and rear fog lights. All other passengers must move to the safe area within the emergency lane. If necessary, promptly call the highway emergency number to request assistance.
I must say, the emergency lane on the highway should never be used for random parking. It's strictly reserved for genuine emergencies like sudden engine failure, tire blowouts, or driver medical emergencies. Once I witnessed a car changing tires on the emergency lane, and a following truck nearly rear-ended it - it gave me cold sweats. Current traffic regulations are strict: unauthorized use of emergency lanes carries a 6-point deduction and 2000 RMB fine, and could trigger chain collisions. Remember, even stopping for a few minutes without real emergency is gambling with lives. Service areas exist for resting, and exits appear every few kilometers if needed - it's never worth the risk.
