Can You Park on the Highway?
2 Answers
Generally not allowed. If you must stop, you should pull over to the side, place a triangular warning sign behind the vehicle, and turn on the hazard lights. You can park in the emergency lane beside the highway, but you must place a warning sign 50 meters behind the vehicle to alert other drivers that there is an emergency stop ahead. Here is more related information: Penalties for parking on the highway: 1. According to Article 68 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": When a motor vehicle breaks down on the highway, the relevant provisions of Article 52 of this Law shall be followed; however, the warning sign should be placed at least 150 meters behind the vehicle in the direction of oncoming traffic. Passengers should quickly move to the right shoulder or emergency lane and call the police immediately. If a motor vehicle on the highway breaks down or is involved in a traffic accident and cannot be driven normally, it should be towed or pulled by a rescue vehicle or a tow truck. 2. The emergency lane is reserved for temporary parking in emergencies, waiting for rescue, or dealing with traffic interruptions caused by accidents or other emergencies. It plays a vital role in rescuing the injured, quickly handling accident scenes, and ensuring timely restoration of traffic flow, making it the "lifeline" of the highway.
I pay special attention to this when driving on highways. It's absolutely forbidden to stop arbitrarily on highways—the risks are too high. With vehicles typically traveling at speeds above 100 km/h, stopping suddenly leaves insufficient braking distance for following vehicles, leading to frequent rear-end collisions. Last year, an acquaintance of mine experienced this firsthand. His car broke down, and within less than two minutes of stopping in the emergency lane, it was sideswiped by a truck from behind, resulting in severe damage. According to regulations, unless it's an emergency like vehicle failure or a passenger's sudden illness, stopping requires pulling close to the shoulder, turning on hazard lights, placing a reflective warning triangle 150 meters away, and moving behind the guardrail before calling for help. Otherwise, getting caught by traffic police results in a 200-yuan fine and 6 penalty points—hardly worth the risk. Always check your vehicle's condition before driving, familiarize yourself with service area locations, and take breaks there instead of risking safety to save time. Developing safe driving habits is crucial—driving is no joke.
