Which lane should a novice take when driving on the highway?
2 Answers
Novices can drive in any lane on the highway. Key precautions for highway driving include: 1. Both the driver and front-seat passenger must wear seat belts, and the driver should not use a phone while driving; 2. Avoid sudden steering wheel movements at high speeds; 3. Do not change lanes arbitrarily—always use turn signals in advance when changing lanes or overtaking; 4. Only use adjacent lanes for overtaking and return to the original lane immediately afterward. Do not straddle or drive on lane dividers; 5. Do not reverse, drive against traffic, make U-turns across the median, or overtake or park on ramps; 6. Maintain a following distance of at least 100 meters. When speed drops below 100 km/h, the distance can be appropriately reduced but must not be less than 50 meters.
I was quite nervous the first time I drove on the highway. I remember my friend suggested I stay in the middle lane as much as possible because the left lane is for overtaking, where the speed is too fast and can easily fluster a beginner. Although the right lane is slower, there are often large trucks or vehicles entering/exiting, making sudden lane changes risky. The middle lane has more stable speeds and spacious room, giving me more time to react, such as when encountering traffic jams or bad weather. As a novice driver with limited experience, don’t follow the trend of driving too fast, but also don’t drive so slowly that you affect others—just stay within the speed limit. I’ve also heard that on the highway, you should signal early before changing lanes, check the rearview mirror and blind spots, and avoid cutting in suddenly. After practicing a few times, I felt much more confident, but at the beginning, it’s safest to stick to the middle lane.
