Is sticking your head out of the sunroof considered a traffic violation?
3 Answers
Sticking your head out of the sunroof is illegal. According to Article 77, Paragraph 4 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": Passengers in motor vehicles shall abide by the following regulations: While the vehicle is in motion, no part of the body shall be extended outside the vehicle. Traffic police authorities may impose fines on passengers in accordance with Article 90 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law." Extending your head out of the sunroof poses the following traffic safety risks: Being thrown out of the vehicle: If the vehicle brakes suddenly in an emergency or is hit from behind, the inertia can easily cause a child to be thrown out. Sunroof entrapment: Due to children's natural tendency to move around, if they accidentally touch the sunroof switch while their head is outside, it can easily lead to neck entrapment accidents.
I think many people feel it's exhilarating to stick their heads out of the sunroof to feel the wind, but this is actually a traffic violation. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, any part of the body extending outside the vehicle while riding can be fined, especially the head. Last time on the highway, I saw traffic police stopping a car to issue a ticket because a young man had half his body sticking out of the sunroof taking photos. This is extremely dangerous—if something falls off a truck ahead or there's a sudden brake, hitting the windshield head-first would be the least of your worries. There have also been incidents of sunroofs trapping people, and the anti-pinch feature isn't 100% reliable. So for safety's sake, whether driving or riding, it's better to behave responsibly. If you want to enjoy the scenery, pulling over is the smarter choice.
A friend let their child stick their head out of the sunroof while driving, and I said that's absolutely not okay. For one thing, it's definitely a traffic violation—police could issue a warning or even a fine if they see it. More importantly, children don't understand the danger. If the car hits a bump, they could easily hit their head on the roof, and encountering low-hanging branches or billboards would be even scarier. The most heartbreaking accident I've seen involved a child whose neck got caught in a suddenly closing sunroof. Honestly, when traveling with kids, they should always wear seat belts. If they need fresh air, just crack the window slightly. For entertainment, prepare a tablet or toys—it's much safer than taking such risks.
