Is the far-right lane on the highway the emergency lane?
2 Answers
Emergency lanes are located on the right side, adjacent to the rightmost travel lane. They typically include a hard shoulder with a width of over three meters and an effective length of at least thirty meters, designed to accommodate vehicles pulling over in emergencies. Emergency lanes are commonly found on highways and urban ring roads. Primary functions of the emergency lane: It is a dedicated lane reserved for emergency vehicles such as engineering rescue, firefighting, medical ambulances, or police executing urgent official duties. Importantly, all civilian vehicles are prohibited from entering or stopping on the emergency lane for any reason. Activating hazard warning lights: Avoid stopping on the emergency lane unless necessary. In case of a breakdown, ensure the hazard warning lights are turned on, and place a warning sign 150 meters behind the vehicle. If required, also activate the tail lights and rear fog lights to ensure maximum safety while using the emergency lane.
After driving on highways for so many years, I've learned that the far-right lane is not to be taken lightly. Once, I saw a car ahead stop on the emergency lane to take photos, only for a police car to arrive with flashing lights, resulting in immediate penalty points and a fine. The emergency lane is strictly for ambulances and tow trucks, marked by solid white lines and diamond-shaped signs as a reminder. On a three-lane highway, the leftmost lane is for overtaking, the middle lane for cruising speed, and the rightmost lane is the regular driving lane, separated from the emergency lane by greenery or barriers. However, on two-lane highways, you must be extra careful—the far-right lane might actually be the emergency lane, and trespassing could cost you 6 points in one go. No matter how urgent it gets during traffic jams, never cut into that lane—blocking rescue routes can be a matter of life and death.
