How many points are deducted for driving in the wrong direction on highways compared to ordinary roads?
3 Answers
Driving in the wrong direction on ordinary roads results in a 3-point deduction; on highways, it's 6 points. Below is an introduction to the relevant content: Wrong-way driving: This refers to motor vehicles or non-motor vehicles traveling on the left side of the road, which is considered wrong-way driving. According to the law: Article 35 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates that motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles must drive on the right side. If caught for illegal parking via camera, a demerit point cycle is 12 months with a full score of 12 points, calculated from the date the motor vehicle driver's license is first issued. If the points do not reach 12, they will automatically reset to zero in the next cycle, and the counting will start anew.
I often drive on highways and know how dangerous it is to go the wrong way. On regular roads, going against traffic costs you 3 points, but on highways, the penalties are even harsher! You’ll lose 12 points without question and have to start all over. Last time, I saw a video in my social feed where a car was reversing on the emergency lane, and the police immediately deducted all 12 points, fined 2,000 yuan, and made the driver retake the license test. On highways, speeds are high, and going the wrong way is like playing with your life—cars behind you won’t be able to stop in time. I’ve also heard there’s shared liability; if you cause an accident, insurance won’t cover it. Honestly, even if you miss an exit, don’t reverse—just take the next one and loop back. It’s much safer.
Driving the wrong way on a highway is no trivial matter. Last year, my uncle took a wrong turn on an interprovincial highway and, for convenience, reversed his car, only to be caught by a traffic camera. The ticket that arrived at our home showed a penalty: all 12 points deducted plus a 2,000 yuan fine. Data released by the traffic management bureau indicates that the fatality rate for wrong-way driving accidents on highways is as high as 45%, even more alarming than drunk driving. It's advisable to install a navigation app, as they now come with real-time alerts. Additionally, pay attention to road signs—some highway exits start giving warnings as early as 2 kilometers in advance. Remember, losing 12 points is equivalent to taking the driving test twice—it's really not worth it.
