What does highway surrogate driving mean?

[VanMason]

Highway surrogate driving is another type of chauffeur service, only differing in the routes taken. Below are some highway driving tips: 1. Understand relevant regulations: The leftmost lane is a temporary overtaking lane and should not be occupied for long periods. The third lane is generally for large vehicles, so maintaining distance is crucial. The far right is the emergency lane, typically used for rescue operations; non-emergency vehicles should not occupy it. 2. Stay focused: Maintain 100% concentration, keep your vision far ahead, and maintain a safe distance. 3. Make slight steering adjustments: When driving on the highway, avoid large steering movements. Hold the steering wheel firmly and make only minor adjustments when avoiding obstacles. 4. Change one lane at a time: At high speeds, it's easier for novice drivers to misjudge vehicles behind them. Changing two lanes consecutively takes longer and increases the risk of rear-end collisions.

[DiJuliana]

Last year when I bought a new car, I heard experienced drivers mention the practice of 'highway running' in the car owners' group. Simply put, it means hiring someone to drive your car on the highway for a few hundred kilometers, mainly to remove carbon deposits from the engine. For example, if you're stuck in city traffic every day with low RPMs, carbon buildup is more likely, and running at higher RPMs on the highway can help flush out some of the deposits. Personally, I make time on weekends to take road trips on the highway, combining the benefits of travel and maintenance. I've also heard that some people hire professional drivers for this purpose, costing around a hundred yuan per hour, but handing over your car to a stranger always raises safety concerns. After all, who would be responsible if there's a speeding ticket? I think this method is only a temporary solution, and long-term maintenance is still more reliable when done yourself.

[DiMalachi]

My cousin just had someone else drive his car on the highway last month. His SUV, which has been mainly used for city commuting over the past five years, recently showed increased fuel consumption and engine shaking. The mechanic said there was severe carbon buildup and recommended a highway run to clean it out. Too busy with work to do it himself, he paid 800 yuan to have a worker from the auto repair shop drive it on a highway trip to a neighboring province, maintaining a speed of around 100 km/h for three hours. After returning, he noticeably felt the throttle was more responsive. However, having someone else drive your car carries significant risks—if the driver has poor habits, it could harm the vehicle. Personally, I add a bottle of fuel additive every six months to my car, which is a more worry-free and safer approach than having someone else drive it.

[DiDonovan]

Last week at a dinner gathering, friends were discussing the service of 'highway running' for cars. Nowadays, there's a service where professional drivers take your car on the highway and keep it running for several hours. Some cars that are frequently driven at low speeds can develop carbon deposits, and highway driving can help burn off some of these deposits due to the high temperatures and RPMs. However, I always feel there's a risk involved—if an accident happens while someone else is driving your car, who is responsible? Traffic laws don't seem to clearly define liability in such cases. With so many maintenance options available nowadays, it might be safer to use carbon cleaners or perform an engine flush if necessary.

[JosephLee]

My old car previously used a carbon-clearing driving service. Primarily targeting vehicles with prolonged low-RPM driving, the service involves a driver taking the car onto the highway and maintaining speeds above 80 km/h to keep the engine under high load for an extended period. The principle is to use high exhaust temperatures to melt carbon deposits while strong airflow scours the intake tract. In practice, they choose low-traffic periods to drive on the ring highway for about two hours. While not as thorough as dismantling and cleaning, it's gentler on the car. A reminder: always sign a liability agreement beforehand to avoid disputes.