How soon can a newly obtained driver's license be used on the highway?
3 Answers
You can drive on the highway as soon as you obtain your driver's license, but you need to be accompanied by someone during the probationary period. Below is relevant information: Definition of a driver's license: A motor vehicle driver's license is a legal document issued by the administrative authorities, permitting the holder to drive a certain type of motor vehicle after passing the required tests, having studied and mastered traffic regulations and driving skills. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses": The first 12 months after a driver initially obtains a motor vehicle driver's license is the probationary period. During this period, if the driver operates a motor vehicle on the highway, they must be accompanied by a driver who has held a driver's license for the same or a higher vehicle category for at least three years.
On the day I got my driver's license, I was curious about whether I could drive on the highway. Later, I checked the regulations and found out: there's a one-year probation period for new licenses, during which you absolutely cannot drive alone on the highway. You must have an experienced driver with at least three years of driving experience sitting in the passenger seat. Last year, my cousin secretly drove on the highway during his probation period and was stopped by traffic police. He was fined 200 yuan and had points deducted. Actually, highway speeds are fast, and road conditions are complex. New drivers lack experience and are more prone to accidents. It's best to drive in the city for a few months first, get familiar with the feel of driving, and then arrange for an experienced driver to accompany you on short highway trips to practice. This is much safer.
Don't rush onto highways with a new driver's license. The law stipulates a 12-month probation period where driving alone on highways is a violation. When I first got my license last year, I was eager to go on a road trip, but my driving school coach stopped me. He said new drivers often misjudge speeds and emergency lane changes can lead to accidents, requiring accompaniment by someone with at least three years of driving experience. Later, I asked an experienced colleague to ride shotgun for a couple of short trips. He constantly reminded me to maintain safe distances and check mirrors, making me realize highway driving is completely different from city driving. Safety is no trivial matter—it's wiser to wait until the probation period ends before driving solo at high speeds.
