How Long Before a New Driver Can Drive on the Highway?
3 Answers
New drivers must have held their driver's license for at least one year before they can drive alone on the highway. If the license has been valid for less than a year, they must be accompanied by someone with at least three years of driving experience. During the probationary period, new drivers must display a probationary sign on their vehicle; otherwise, they may face penalties. Before driving, new drivers should mentally prepare themselves, try to stay relaxed, and avoid nervousness, as tension can lead to panic, hesitation in necessary actions, and failure to stop when needed, potentially causing accidents. Additionally, they should familiarize themselves with the coordination of the accelerator, clutch, brakes, steering wheel, gear shift, and handbrake, as well as the proper use of lights, turn signals, horn, dashboard, wipers, and rearview mirrors.
I remember when I first got my driver's license, I was eager to hit the highway. It wasn't until I became a driving instructor that I truly understood the nuances. While regulations require a one-year probationary period, what really matters is how many kilometers you've actually driven. Here's a telling statistic: it's recommended to accumulate at least 3,000 km on regular roads before attempting highways, with over 20 nighttime driving experiences. On highways, a slight steering wheel shake can deviate your car by 3 meters, and a 0.5-second delay in reaction could send you dozens of meters off course. Mastering details like judging following distance via rearview mirrors and waiting until two-thirds of your shoulder passes before turning during lane changes is crucial. Once, before taking a student on the ring highway, I had them practice emergency braking at 120 km/h in a closed course—they ended up dry-heaving from the seatbelt's force. That proved far more effective than just lecturing theory.
Last week my niece asked the same question, thinking two months of practice would be enough. I took her straight to the national highway and tried 80 mph—the moment the car drifted slightly, she got so nervous her nails dug into the seat. New drivers often overlook how tire noise on highways can dull judgment, and wind resistance makes steering heavier. It’s best to find someone to accompany you on a few short highway trips to experience moments like being ‘sucked’ by the airflow of a truck. Remember to check tire pressure and windshield washer fluid beforehand—service areas are far fewer than in the city. At least learn all the symbols on the dashboard; once I saw a newbie driving the entire highway with hazard lights on, simply because they didn’t recognize the tire pressure warning light.
