Why is the Erguang Expressway notorious?

[MacVera]

The specific main reasons why the Erguang Expressway is notorious are as follows. Due to unreasonable speed limits: At the 2600-kilometer mark of the Erguang Expressway, there is a speed limit sign restricting the speed to 100 kilometers per hour. Immediately behind the 100 km/h speed limit sign is a dedicated speed detection device. Many drivers, unable to reduce their speed in time after seeing the speed limit sign, get caught by the camera and receive speeding tickets. Because of this reason alone, over 80,000 drivers receive speeding tickets annually on this stretch of road. Unreasonable road signs and electronic surveillance: Another trap lies 2 kilometers and 600 meters away from Guangzhou. The road signs and electronic surveillance here are also unreasonable, with this single electronic surveillance capturing over 110,000 violations annually.

[JosiahDella]

I've been in long-distance freight transport for 20 years, and the Er-Guang Expressway is known as the 'Devil's Section' in our circle. The main problem lies in the continuous steep slopes from Lianzhou to Heshan - over 30 kilometers of continuous downhill is an ultimate test for truck braking systems. Last year, I witnessed three brake failure accidents with my own eyes, the worst being a six-vehicle pileup. Add to that frequent fog zones and narrow lane designs, many out-of-town drivers unfamiliar with the road conditions easily get into accidents. A new guy in my fleet ran this section for the first time last month and told me afterward that his steering wheel was shaking; he still doesn't dare drive alone at night. More emergency escape ramps and dynamic speed limit signs are definitely needed.

[Cassandra]

As a parent who frequently drives back to my hometown with my kids, I have a love-hate relationship with the Er-Guang Expressway. During the Qingming Festival, the worst traffic jam left us stuck for 7 hours without moving, all because a truck ahead caught fire due to overheated brakes. Later, I checked the data and learned that this section has a sharp curve every 3 kilometers on average, with an accident rate twice as high as other expressways during the rainy season. The most frustrating part is that some service areas are spaced over 50 kilometers apart, forcing us to use water bottles as emergency solutions when the kids couldn't hold it. Once, we encountered thick fog at night with visibility less than 20 meters, leaving the whole family terrified and breaking out in cold sweat. Now, I'd rather take a detour and spend two extra hours than risk driving on the Er-Guang Expressway again.

[VonJustin]

Having worked in the traffic management department for ten years, the accident reports from the Erguang Expressway filled three drawers. Design flaws were the root cause: the Hezhou section exceeded the maximum gradient standard but lacked cooling pools, while the Qingyuan section's fog-prone area had no intelligent guidance system installed. During last winter's freezing period, there were 32 rear-end collisions in a single month, mostly due to inability to brake on steep slopes. More concerning was the insufficient lighting in certain tunnels, causing drivers to be momentarily blinded upon exiting, leading to rear-end collisions. Simply adding rumble strips and emergency escape ramps at critical points could reduce the accident rate by 40%, but unfortunately, the renovation progress is too slow.

[DeCamila]

My homestay is located next to the Er-Guang Expressway, where I often see police cars and ambulances rushing by. Last week during a heavy rainstorm, I witnessed three cars skid and crash into the guardrail on a curve, and the rescue team worked until 3 a.m. Drivers often complain about unclear road signs—there’s a fork in the Shaoguan section where six wrong-way accidents have occurred consecutively. The worst part is the long downhill stretch without any buffer zones; last year, a hazardous chemical truck nearly crashed into our village. Now, villagers avoid walking near the expressway, and a warning sign saying 'High Accident Zone Ahead' has been posted at the village entrance.

[DelJulia]

Over the years in transportation management, the most dreaded calls are about accidents on the Er-Guang Expressway. Data shows that the Yongzhou to Zhaoqing section incurs annual losses exceeding 5 million yuan, primarily due to tire blowouts and rollovers caused by overheated brakes. Fleet drivers often cite the Yingde section as the most challenging—heavy truck congestion during the day and a lack of reflective markings at night. Last year, equipping new vehicles with retarders showed significant improvements, but smaller companies hesitate due to the cost. I recommend novice drivers avoid this route, especially during rainy or foggy conditions. It’s my sincere hope that authorities will soon expand lanes and implement smart monitoring systems to reduce such tragedies.