What does it mean when the highway shoulder is passable?
3 Answers
Driving on the highway shoulder refers to vehicles traveling on the shoulder of a highway. Right shoulder: For a four-lane highway with a design speed of 120km/h, a right hard shoulder of 3.50m is recommended. For six-lane and eight-lane highways, a right hard shoulder of 3.0m is recommended. The minimum width may be adopted when restricted by terrain conditions or other special circumstances. Left shoulder: For eight-lane or wider highways with an integrated cross-section, it is neither safe nor practical for vehicles experiencing breakdowns or running out of fuel to cross several lanes to stop on the right shoulder. Based on experience, a left hard shoulder with a width of at least 2.5m should be provided for stranded vehicles to pull over or await towing.
The highway shoulder is temporarily open for traffic, which refers to the emergency or rescue lane on the highway being temporarily allowed for use by regular vehicles under certain special circumstances. Typically, during peak traffic congestion or when accidents cause severe blockage on the main lanes, traffic management authorities will notify drivers via electronic signs or broadcasts to permit temporary use. This helps alleviate congestion, but drivers must strictly follow the instructions and cannot use the shoulder arbitrarily, or they may face fines for violations. The shoulder is generally narrow, so drivers should reduce speed and stay alert to avoid collisions with broken-down vehicles or pedestrians on the side. Once the situation improves, drivers should return to the main lanes as soon as possible, as this is a temporary solution, not a permanent right.
From my driving experience, while driving on the shoulder can slightly speed up the journey, I prioritize safety risks more. The shoulder is designed for emergencies, and driving on it regularly can easily lead to overlooking potential obstacles there, such as broken-down vehicles parked by the roadside or occasional pedestrians stepping down. If it's allowed to drive on the shoulder, it means temporary use is permitted, but one must remain highly alert, avoiding speeding or cutting in. I always remind myself to only use it when seeing official signals and to pay attention to the movements of vehicles ahead and behind. Violating the rules is not only dangerous but can also result in fines from traffic cameras. Safety always comes first, and this cannot be overlooked.
