Is There a Point Deduction for Stopping on the Emergency Lane on the Highway?
4 Answers
Both the emergency stopping strip and the emergency lane are temporary stopping zones designated for vehicles experiencing sudden malfunctions or other urgent reasons. Except for emergency situations such as engineering rescue, firefighting and rescue, medical aid, or police officers performing urgent official duties, occupying these lanes during normal traffic flow is illegal and will result in a 6-point deduction and a fine. Below are more related regulations from the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": 1. Article 79 states that when a motor vehicle enters the highway from an on-ramp, it must turn on the left turn signal and merge into the lane without obstructing the normal flow of vehicles already on the highway. When exiting the highway, the vehicle must turn on the right turn signal, enter the deceleration lane, reduce speed, and then exit. 2. Article 80 stipulates that when a motor vehicle is traveling on the highway at a speed exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, it must maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from the vehicle in front in the same lane. If the speed is below 100 kilometers per hour, the distance can be appropriately reduced, but the minimum distance must not be less than 50 meters.
Last month, I saw with my own eyes my neighbor Lao Li pulling over on the highway emergency lane to get something from the trunk, only to be caught by traffic police on the spot. He was immediately penalized with 6 demerit points and a 200 yuan fine. Regrettably stomping his feet, he said he thought stopping for just two minutes would be fine. In reality, the emergency lane should never be used casually—not even for urgent bathroom breaks or driver changes. The only permissible situation to stop is if the vehicle suddenly breaks down and cannot move. Even then, you must immediately turn on the hazard lights, place a warning triangle 150 meters behind the car, and have everyone move outside the guardrail to wait. Nowadays, highways are equipped with surveillance cameras everywhere, and patrol cars are constantly on the move, making it almost certain to get caught for illegal parking. With over a decade of driving experience, my biggest takeaway is that if you need to stop on the highway, always find a service area. It’s better to drive an extra twenty kilometers than to gamble with your luck and risk your license points.
I once chatted with my cousin who runs freight transport, and he said parking on the highway emergency lane is now strictly regulated. Private cars get 6 points deducted, while commercial trucks like theirs face even harsher penalties—a full 12-point deduction, which means losing their livelihood. Actually, the emergency lane is officially called the 'lifesaving lane,' reserved specifically for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks. Last year, a rear-end collision on the highway in our city happened because a car blocked the emergency lane, delaying an ambulance and resulting in the victim not being saved in time. Traffic police now enforce penalties without leniency—cameras automatically identify illegally parked vehicles, and tickets are issued within three minutes. My advice? Always check your vehicle before departure, keep some water and snacks in the car, and if nature calls, it’s better to use a bottle than risk parking illegally. After all, losing all your points means retaking the driving test, which is even more of a hassle.
I remember this question was in the subject one test bank. Parking on the emergency lane of a highway under non-emergency circumstances will result in penalty points according to Article 90 of the Road Traffic Law, starting from a minimum of 6 points. Once when I had a flat tire, I followed the proper procedure to park on the emergency lane: hazard lights on, warning triangle placed, and moved outside the guardrail to call for help. The tow truck driver later told me that failing to follow these steps could still result in penalty points even in case of a breakdown. Now it's even stricter, with some provinces increasing the penalty to 9 points. The only exception is life-threatening situations like sudden illness, but you still need to provide hospital documentation for appeal afterwards. Honestly, instead of calculating how many points you'll lose, just remember the golden rule: never steer your wheel towards the emergency lane unless absolutely necessary.
