How many meters of reversing is considered a traffic violation?
3 Answers
On highways, reversing regardless of the distance will result in a full 12-point deduction. Here are the relevant details: Regulation: Reversing on a highway violates Article 90 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China,' and the offending driver will be fined and penalized with 12 demerit points. Hazard: Speeds on highways are very high, and actions like reversing, driving in the wrong direction, stopping, or suddenly changing lanes—common in urban areas—are magnified on highways. Any small mistake can lead to severe accidents. The correct approach is to continue driving to the nearest toll station, exit, and then make a U-turn.
This is a pretty crucial question. I've been driving for over a decade and often need to reverse to find a parking spot or make a U-turn. The regulations don't strictly specify how many meters of reversing would constitute a violation, but in practice, law enforcement and traffic authorities focus on the intent behind the action. If the reversing distance is too long—say, exceeding 50 meters—it can easily be suspected as driving in the wrong direction or intentionally obstructing traffic, leading to a ticket. The reason is simple: reversing should be a short-distance maneuver for positional adjustments, not an endless backward movement on a straight road. Excessive reversing increases accident risks due to limited rear visibility, making collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles more likely. I recall once being warned (though not fined) for reversing over 30 meters in the city. My advice is to keep reversing distances short, ideally within 10 to 20 meters, prioritizing safety first. Studying traffic rule manuals can help avoid a lot of trouble.
As a new driver who just got my license, I'm very sensitive to such regulations. During driving lessons, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that the reversing distance shouldn't be too long, generally limited to within 50 meters for safety. However, traffic violation standards aren't solely based on distance; it mainly depends on whether it affects others or creates hazards. If you reverse on a highway, it's directly illegal regardless of the distance. According to my research, most local regulations prohibit continuous forward and reverse movements that create a reverse driving pattern. Excessive reversing distance may lead to penalty points and fines, so keeping daily reversing within 30 meters is more prudent. Always check mirrors and blind spots when reversing, and installing a reversing radar is even better to prevent accidental collisions with people or objects. Practicing standardized operations is crucial.
