How long after getting a driver's license can you drive on highways?
2 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.
