Is it mandatory to carry a fire extinguisher when driving on the highway?
2 Answers
Small passenger vehicles are not required to carry a fire extinguisher when driving on highways. Below are specific details about carrying fire extinguishers on highways: 1. Highway traffic police do not conduct special inspections on whether small vehicles are equipped with car fire extinguishers. 2. Buses, tourist vehicles, school buses, and hazardous chemical transport vehicles are subject to focused inspections on whether they are equipped with onboard fire extinguishers, warning triangles, and other equipment, and whether the fire extinguishers are expired. Regulations explicitly require these types of vehicles to be mandatorily equipped with fire extinguishers. Below is extended information about three types of onboard fire extinguishers: 1. Dry powder fire extinguishers operate on a chemical suppression mechanism, interrupting the chain reaction of combustion. They offer high fire-extinguishing capacity, versatility, rapid action, good electrical insulation properties, and perform well in low temperatures, making them particularly suitable for factories, warehouses, and outdoor use. 2. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers work through suffocation, reducing the oxygen concentration around the burning material. Carbon dioxide as a fire suppressant has excellent insulation properties. 3. Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) fire extinguishers function via cooling and isolation. They provide high fire-extinguishing capacity with minimal water damage, avoiding the secondary pollution of dry powder and the toxicity of carbon dioxide.
Regarding this issue, my experience is that on Chinese highways, there is no legal requirement for ordinary passenger cars to carry a fire extinguisher. A few years ago, while driving long-distance, I saw a car with smoke coming from its engine. Fortunately, I had a fire extinguisher on hand and helped control the fire. This made me realize that on highways, where vehicles travel at high speeds, a fire extinguisher can be crucial in quickly putting out a fire in case of spontaneous combustion or minor accidents, preventing greater losses. I suggest that regardless of regulations, keeping a small car fire extinguisher in your vehicle is practical—opt for a compact model that fits easily in the trunk. Regularly check its expiration date and ensure the pressure is normal; don’t regret not having it when you need it. Additionally, these extinguishers are now very popular on e-commerce platforms, affordable at around a hundred yuan—a small investment for safety, worth considering.
