1. What Should You Do in Case of an Emergency on the Highway?
In urban areas, it’s common to see drivers involved in an accident negotiating the situation on-site, arguing over who’s at fault and compensation. But on the highway, this approach is a big no-no. Attempting to resolve issues on-site can very likely trigger a secondary accident—or even cost lives.
Sometimes on the highway, you’ll see two cars collide, and without even setting up warning signs, the drivers start arguing right there. With vehicles speeding by, if trailing drivers fail to notice or react in time, a second accident is highly likely. Officials from the highway management authority remind drivers that if you’re involved in an accident on the highway and your vehicle can’t be moved out of the traffic lane, you should immediately turn on hazard lights, plus low-beam and tail lights at night. Then get out of the car, place warning signs 100 to 150 meters in the direction of oncoming traffic, quickly move all passengers and yourself behind the highway guardrail, and promptly report the incident to highway management and traffic police, as well as notify the highway clearing services.
2. What If You Take the Wrong Exit on the Highway?
During the Qingming Festival holiday, Miss Zhang was driving to visit family. As a novice driver and on her first long-distance trip, she got a bit confused on the highway. “There are so many signs on the highway, and with the high speed, I didn’t dare take my eyes off the road too much,” she said. On her way back, at a junction, she failed to read the sign in time and accidentally entered the ramp leading to Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County. She ended up driving an extra half loop around the ring expressway before finally exiting at a toll station. Zhang said that for novice drivers like her, highway interchanges and exit ramps can be quite confusing.
It turns out many drivers have had similar experiences to Zhang. Some, for convenience, choose to reverse at highway junctions or drive in the wrong direction on emergency lanes to get back to where they made the wrong turn, then try to figure out the correct route. This is extremely dangerous. On highways, it’s common to see skid marks at junctions—usually left by drivers who realize they’ve taken the wrong exit and slam on their brakes.
Authorities explain that as long as you stick to the speed limit, there’s usually enough time to read the highway signs. Highway management reminds drivers that once you’ve taken the wrong exit, you should continue to the next one to turn around—never reverse or drive against traffic on the highway. Highways are generally straight, and when a car reverses, it’s nearly impossible for others to tell whether it's going backward or forward. Coupled with high speeds, this makes rear-end collisions highly likely.
3. What If You Feel Drowsy While Driving?
Truck driver Mr. Liu also experienced nodding off while driving on the highway: “I was delivering goods to Xining, it was already past 1 a.m., and I was exhausted. I tried to push through but couldn’t find a place to rest. Next thing I knew, I dozed off at the wheel. When I suddenly woke up, I realized I’d been asleep for a bit—and I was scared out of my wits.” Since then, Liu hasn’t taken any chances—he avoids night drives when possible, and if he must drive when tired, he takes a break at a service area before continuing.
Driver Jiang had a similar experience, but with far more serious consequences: “Because I was drowsy from fatigue, my truck crashed straight into a semi-trailer. The vehicle was badly damaged, vegetables spilled all over the road, blocking other vehicles. It took traffic police an hour and a half to clear the road.”
Highways are wide, with no pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles, and no need to dodge oncoming traffic. This often leads to minimal driving operations and, consequently, driver fatigue or even nodding off. A highway management official noted that many accidents recorded this year were due to driver fatigue.
Police warn that fatigued drivers experience impaired judgment, slower reactions, and increased mistakes. Symptoms may include blurred vision, soreness, poor concentration, distraction, anxiety, and irritability. Professionals recommend that drivers who feel tired should stop at a service area to rest, freshen up, and only resume driving when fully alert. If you’re drowsy and can’t reach a service area in time, pull over briefly on the emergency lane—but never stay there for long to avoid accidents or theft.
4. Essential Checks Before Hitting the Highway
Earlier this year, highway patrol officer Xiao Chen spotted a car slowly inching along about four or five hundred meters from a service area, with someone pushing it from behind. Upon investigation, he found that the car had run out of fuel and broken down. Since they weren’t far from the service area and didn’t want to call for help, the two occupants decided to push the car themselves—one steering, the other pushing. Xiao Chen immediately stopped this dangerous act.
Mr. Yang, an employee at a highway toll station, shared a similar story: a driver realized his fuel gauge was in the red just as he was about to enter the highway. With no gas station nearby, he said, “I think I can still go another twenty or thirty kilometers, maybe make it to the next service area?” Despite his unease, he proceeded. Yang said that many drivers ignore low fuel warnings, hoping they can just make it to the next station, only to end up stranded and seeking help.
Most cases of vehicles running out of fuel and breaking down on highways involve passenger cars. Truck drivers, on the other hand, usually carry larger fuel tanks and are experienced in keeping their tanks adequately filled, so they rarely face such situations. Highway officials remind drivers to inspect their vehicles before hitting the highway—ensure you have enough fuel, bring a spare tire, warning signs, and other essentials.