What is the difference between the icons of a harbor-style bus stop and an emergency parking zone?
3 Answers
The differences between the icons of a harbor-style bus stop and an emergency parking zone lie in their usage scenarios and sign designs. A bus stop refers to a designated road facility where buses stop along their routes to allow passengers to safely board and alight. Bus stops are primarily located at key passenger flow points, such as intersections of major roads, railway stations, large shopping centers, and important institutions. Differences in usage: An emergency parking zone is provided on highways or first-class roads for vehicles to temporarily park in case of traffic accidents or mechanical failures while awaiting rescue. According to regulations, emergency parking zones are placed every 750 meters on highways and first-class roads. Similar to emergency lanes, these zones are strictly for emergency use and must not be occupied arbitrarily. Differences in sign design: The sign for an emergency parking zone features dashed lines in the middle, whereas the signs for harbor-style bus stops or passing bays do not. It's important to distinguish between them. When parking in an emergency zone, regardless of the reason, drivers are required by regulation to place a triangular warning sign 150 meters behind the vehicle and activate hazard lights; otherwise, they may face penalties from traffic police.
Speaking of these two signs, I often confused them when I first started driving. The bus bay has a blue background with a white arrow curved into a crescent shape, resembling a harbor, mainly used for temporary bus stops. The emergency stopping lane, on the other hand, is a blue rectangle with a white exclamation mark, like a warning sign. The most crucial difference lies in their functions: the emergency stopping lane can only be used when the vehicle breaks down or in emergencies—parking there under normal circumstances will result in fines and penalty points! However, the bus bay allows temporary parking for social vehicles during certain periods. Once, I saw a broken-down car parked in a bus bay on the highway, and the driver was lectured by the traffic police, so it's essential to distinguish the locations of emergency signs correctly.
Last month during the makeup class at the driving school, the instructor specifically tested us on these two signs. Both are blue in color, but their shapes differ significantly: the bus bay sign features a curved parking lane, while the emergency strip sign shows a straight lane with a warning triangle. The practical differences are even greater – parking in the emergency strip requires turning on hazard lights and placing a warning sign 150 meters away, and prolonged parking may result in towing. Bus bays, on the other hand, are mainly built near bus stops, some even with shelters. Last time it rained, I saw a ride-hailing car taking shelter in a bus bay, which is actually non-compliant since that space is intended for buses to turn around.
