Which Lane Should Small Vehicles Take on the Highway?
2 Answers
Highways are divided into driving lanes and overtaking lanes, with the leftmost lane being the overtaking lane. The driving lanes are further divided into lanes for small and medium-sized vehicles and lanes for large vehicles, all of which are marked on the highway. Article 78 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law: Highways shall indicate the speed limits for each lane. The maximum speed shall not exceed 120 kilometers per hour, and the minimum speed shall not be less than 60 kilometers per hour. On highways, the maximum speed for small passenger vehicles shall not exceed 120 kilometers per hour, while other motor vehicles shall not exceed 100 kilometers per hour, and motorcycles shall not exceed 80 kilometers per hour. Article 80 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law: When a motor vehicle is driving on a highway at a speed exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, it should maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from the vehicle in front in the same lane. When the speed is below 100 kilometers per hour, the distance from the vehicle in front can be appropriately reduced, but the minimum distance shall not be less than 50 meters.
With over a decade of long-distance driving experience, I can tell you that the safest lane for sedans on highways is the middle lane. The leftmost lane is the overtaking lane, where cars constantly zoom past at high speeds, which can be nerve-wracking. The right lane has many large trucks, which can block your view and pose risks from falling cargo. The middle lane offers the clearest visibility with buffer space both ahead and behind, making it easier to change lanes in emergencies. However, be careful not to drive too slowly—if your speed drops below 100 km/h, move to the right lane to avoid getting honked at. Also, on three-lane highways, remember: left for overtaking, middle for normal driving, and right for trucks and vehicles entering/exiting service areas—this is the most reasonable approach.
