How long after getting a driver's license can you drive on highways?
4 Answers
You can drive on highways at any time after obtaining a driver's license, but within the first year, you must be accompanied by someone with at least 3 years of driving experience. After holding the license for one year, you can drive on highways alone. A driver's license, also known as a driving permit, is officially called a Motor Vehicle Driving License. It is a legal document required for operating motor vehicles, as driving demands specific skills. Drivers lacking these skills may cause traffic accidents if they drive recklessly. Precautions for new drivers include: 1. Carry all necessary documents, inspect the vehicle's condition beforehand, check for any irregularities, and ensure the license plate is unobstructed; 2. Avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, fatigue, without a license, or in extremely poor visibility; 3. Follow all traffic instructions while driving, including traffic lights and road markings, and yield to other vehicles when appropriate.
I remember thinking about this when I first got my driver's license. According to Chinese regulations, if you've had your license for less than a year, you're in the probationary period, and you absolutely cannot drive alone on highways. If caught, the penalties are quite severe. However, there's a workaround: you can have an experienced driver with over three years of driving experience accompany you in the passenger seat. This way, even during the probationary period, you can drive on highways. Back then, I had my dad accompany me to practice, getting familiar with speed control and lane-changing techniques on the highway. Actually, this rule is mainly because they worry that new drivers might react slowly, and highways have high speeds with many sudden situations. After the probationary period, you're free to drive alone, but even after a year, it's best to choose times with lighter traffic for your first few highway trips to get some practice.
I specifically looked up the traffic regulations on this matter. Novice drivers with less than one year of driving experience are prohibited from driving alone on highways; they must be accompanied by an experienced driver who has held a license for at least three years. Back when I had just gotten my license two months prior, I almost made a mistake—I was in a hurry and wanted to drive on the highway alone, but my friend stopped me. He said new drivers tend to misjudge distances on highways, especially when entering or exiting ramps, which can be particularly dangerous. Even after completing the one-year period, you need to be cautious when driving alone: avoid rainy or foggy conditions for the first few trips, and it’s best to check your tires and brake pads beforehand. A tire blowout on the highway is much more troublesome than in the city—I once saw a novice driver struggling to change a spare tire at a service area.
Simply put, the first 365 days after obtaining your driver's license are considered the probationary period. During this time, you must have a co-pilot with over three years of driving experience when driving on highways. Why is this necessary? Last year, when I accompanied my cousin for practice, I deeply understood: novices often run over guide lines at highway service area entrances, and hesitant lane changes during overtaking are particularly dangerous. Although you can drive alone after the probationary period, it's advisable not to drive at night for the first three months. I've seen too many cases where novices unknowingly drive with high beams on at night. Also, remember to familiarize yourself with ETC in advance, as manual transmission cars are prone to stalling when queuing at toll stations.
