Is it necessary to carry a fire extinguisher in the car when driving on the highway?
2 Answers
It is necessary to carry a fire extinguisher in the car when driving on the highway. Highway traffic police generally do not conduct special inspections on whether small vehicles are equipped with car fire extinguishers. However, for vehicles such as buses, tourist vehicles, school buses, and hazardous chemical transport vehicles, they will focus on checking whether they are equipped with on-board fire extinguishers, warning triangles, and other equipment, and whether the fire extinguishers have expired. This is because regulations explicitly stipulate that the above-mentioned vehicles must be equipped with fire extinguishers. Car fire extinguishers are specifically designed for vehicle fire suppression and include two main types: non-pressurized hanging ultra-fine dry powder automatic fire extinguishing devices for vehicles and mini pressurized hanging ultra-fine dry powder automatic fire extinguishing devices for vehicles. The main types of car fire extinguishers on the market include aerosol fire extinguishers, dry powder fire extinguishers, ultra-fine dry powder fire extinguishers, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, and water-based fire extinguishers.
As a seasoned long-distance driver, the question of whether to carry a fire extinguisher on the highway is worth careful consideration. While there's no national mandate for private vehicles to be equipped with one, after witnessing a car ahead of me catch fire once, I've always kept a 1kg dry powder extinguisher in my car. On highways, emergency response can be slow, and having your own extinguisher can buy precious time during critical moments like tire fires in summer heat or smoke from aging wiring. I recommend storing it under the passenger seat or in a fixed spot in the trunk, checking the pressure gauge every six months—the needle should stay in the green zone. Safety isn't about gambling with odds; spending a few dozen yuan on this insurance is worthwhile.
