What does auxiliary lane mean?
3 Answers
Auxiliary lanes refer to the lanes on both sides of the main road that assist the main road traffic, while the main road lanes are the normal traffic lanes. The following is an introduction to the traffic rules of auxiliary and main roads: 1. Inverted triangle sign: When driving on the auxiliary road, you need to pay special attention to whether there is an inverted triangle sign on the auxiliary road. There will also be a red triangular sign on the side of the road with the word "yield" written in it, indicating that there are main road vehicles merging into the auxiliary road ahead, and you need to slow down. 2. Stop line and inverted triangle sign: There will be a stop line and an inverted triangle on the auxiliary road, which are yield signs. When you see red vehicles merging into the auxiliary road, yellow vehicles should slow down and yield before the stop line and must not cross the stop line, otherwise it may easily lead to a collision accident.
I used to be confused about this too, until I asked a taxi driver friend who explained it to me. So-called 'auxiliary road vehicles' are those that drive on auxiliary roads, which are the lanes running parallel to the main thoroughfare. For example, if the speed limit on the main Third Ring Road is 80 km/h, the auxiliary road might only allow 40 km/h. Auxiliary roads primarily serve as buffer zones—like when you need to pull into a roadside convenience store or a residential entrance, it's too dangerous to exit directly from the main road, so you have to switch to the auxiliary road first before turning in. Another scenario is during main road traffic jams, where traffic police often divert vehicles onto auxiliary roads. Driving on auxiliary roads requires extra attention to yielding—for instance, vehicles entering the main road from the auxiliary road must give way to main road traffic, and you should proactively slow down for pedestrians and cyclists at intersections. Auxiliary roads are typically narrower than main roads, often with illegally parked vehicles lining the edges, making them quite challenging to navigate skillfully.
After driving for so many years, I've noticed many beginners struggle with the concept of main and auxiliary roads. Simply put, auxiliary road vehicles are those traveling on secondary roads. The slow lanes running parallel to urban arterial roads are auxiliary roads, with lower speed limits and more complex road conditions. Last weekend, an accident on the elevated main road near my home led to a road closure, and I was stuck in the auxiliary road for half an hour. Auxiliary road vehicles play a crucial role in traffic diversion: they allow drivers heading to gas stations to avoid entering the main road, enable residents to return home without detours, and make it easier for buses to pull over at stops. However, driving on auxiliary roads requires extra caution in three aspects: first, don't cut in when approaching main road entrances; second, be wary of pedestrians suddenly darting out near schools and hospitals; and third, watch out for electric bikes going the wrong way during nighttime when visibility is poor. Remember, auxiliary road vehicles do not have priority over main road traffic—yielding is a must.
