Is it allowed to reverse on urban roads?
2 Answers
Reversing on urban roads is not permitted. According to Article 90 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, reversing a vehicle in violation of regulations (such as reversing at railway crossings, intersections, one-way roads, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, or tunnels) will result in corresponding fines. Urban road traffic rules include: 1. Do not run red lights: Major intersections in cities are equipped with red, yellow, and green traffic signals that change according to a set timing pattern. No vehicles are allowed to run red lights; 2. Vehicles are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must yield to vehicles going straight and must not obstruct them.
I've been driving in the city for twenty years, and reversing on the highway is absolutely a risky behavior. Urban highways have heavy traffic and high speeds, making it easy to cause rear-end or side collisions when reversing, especially during rush hours. Traffic safety regulations clearly stipulate that reversing is prohibited on highways, and it can only be done in the presence of obstacles or special circumstances under safe conditions. However, in reality, it is illegal in most situations. I once saw a friend caught reversing on a main road, and the police immediately fined him 200 yuan and deducted 3 points from his license. He said it wasn't worth it. If you miss an exit or intersection, it's advisable to calmly continue driving, use your phone's navigation to find the next U-turn point or parking lot to adjust your direction. Safe driving should always be the priority. Don't seek temporary convenience, or you may regret it deeply.
