What are the free expressway toll periods?
2 Answers
Free expressway toll periods apply during four national statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Below are important considerations for driving on expressways: 1. Obey traffic rules: Avoid forcing lane changes, which may endanger yourself and others. Under normal circumstances, maintain sufficient distance from vehicles behind when changing lanes and always use turn signals. 2. Avoid passing on the right: It's generally inadvisable to pass vehicles on the right side on expressways. Since Chinese vehicles are left-hand drive and drive on the right side of the road, visibility is poorer on the right side. Truck drivers primarily focus on their left-side mirrors, and right-side mirrors have larger blind spots than left-side ones. When passing on the right, drivers may not notice approaching vehicles in time. Given the high speeds involved, this situation can easily lead to accidents if emergencies occur.
I've been driving on highways for over ten years and have experienced many toll-free periods. These mainly occur during four national holidays: the Spring Festival holiday usually offers free tolls from New Year's Eve to the sixth day of the lunar new year; the Qingming Festival typically has three days off with the middle two days being toll-free; during the May Day Labor holiday, the days around it may be free; the National Day holiday is the longest, often providing seven or eight toll-free days. These benefits apply to passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer, including ETC users. However, it's important to note that specific dates may vary each year, so it's best to check the Ministry of Transport's announcements in advance. Peak periods can be particularly congested, such as the first day of the National Day holiday when road conditions are terrible. It's advisable to avoid peak times and plan your travel schedule carefully. Normally, tolls are not waived, and these savings on toll fees are only available during specific holidays.
