When Did the Highway Toll-Free Policy Start?
2 Answers
Highways began implementing toll-free policies in 2012. Below are the detailed dates for highway toll exemptions: 1. First Toll-Free Period: Highways started offering toll-free travel during holidays beginning with the National Day holiday in 2012. That year coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays being merged, resulting in an 8-day toll-free period from 00:00 on September 30 to 24:00 on October 7. 2. Subsequent Toll-Free Dates: In subsequent years, toll exemptions were implemented during four major holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Small passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer (including seven seats) could travel on highways for free during these periods. On September 24, 2020, Sun Wenjian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, announced that during the 2020 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, toll roads nationwide would continue to exempt small passenger vehicles from tolls. The specific toll-free period was from 00:00 on October 1 to 24:00 on October 8.
I remember the highway toll-free policy started in 2012. That year was the first time I drove back to my hometown during the National Day holiday, saving a lot on toll fees. As an ordinary car owner, I find this policy quite beneficial—it lowers holiday travel costs and allows me to take my family on more trips. The policy covers major holidays like Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, and applies only to passenger vehicles, which has indeed boosted the self-driving travel boom. However, sometimes the roads get extremely congested, so it's necessary to plan the trip in advance and avoid peak hours. Overall, it makes travel more convenient but also reminds everyone to prioritize safety and not rush just to save money. My suggestion is to check the vehicle's condition annually to ensure a smooth journey.
