Car owners should enhance safety awareness and foster a harmonious travel environment
The “Golden Week” of National Day is approaching. This year, tolls on highways will be waived during the holiday. Upon hearing this news, some citizens may find themselves caught in a dilemma of mixed emotions—joyful that they can save on travel costs thanks to the policy during major holidays, yet worried about the potential crowds due to reduced costs.
What should you do in such a situation? What if you encounter the critical point of the toll-free period while driving? The highway toll exemption policy will bring many changes to self-drive trips during this National Day holiday. Industry insiders remind eager self-drive travelers to prepare in advance and familiarize themselves with the changes in holiday travel as well as useful self-driving tips.
1. Toll-Free Travel
Toll cards still required
According to the Ministry of Transport’s notice on toll-free travel during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, during the toll-free period for passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer, all highway toll stations (points) will continue to operate under the management model of “collecting cards at the entrance and returning cards at the exit.”
For eligible small vehicles, toll cards will generally be issued at the entrance and collected for free at the exit. In other words, if you’re driving on the highway and the toll-free period ends midway, you’ll have to pay the toll upon exiting.
According to the implementation plan, during the holiday period, the nationwide toll-free period for small passenger vehicles on highways is uniformly set from 00:00 on September 30 to 24:00 on October 7.
2. Toll-Free Critical Point
Based on departure time
Under the new toll-free policy, the toll-free period refers to the time from 00:00 on the first day of the four major holidays to 24:00 on the last day. It’s important to note that the toll-free time node is based on when your vehicle exits the toll lane. In other words, even if you get on the highway before 00:00 on September 30 (i.e., outside the toll-free period), as long as you exit after 00:00 on September 30, you’ll still enjoy the free pass. Conversely, if you haven’t exited the highway by 24:00 on October 7, you’ll be charged according to the regular toll policy. Return travelers must plan their timing carefully.
In case of traffic congestion or queuing to exit the highway, you might miss the toll-free window. Therefore, it is advised that travelers schedule their trips with some buffer time. If you absolutely cannot make it within the toll-free period, remember not to speed recklessly just to catch it. You can choose to exit the highway just before the cutoff and then re-enter, which could also help you save on some toll fees.
3. ETC Lanes Are Faster
Make good use of the left lane
Travelers can also apply for ETC services in advance and use ETC lanes for a quicker experience. If you haven’t signed up for ETC, don’t worry—the Ministry of Transport requires efficient use of existing toll lanes, with a push to designate dedicated free lanes for small passenger vehicles on the left side of toll plazas where possible, thus separating toll and toll-free vehicles. Eligible toll stations may set up dedicated free lanes in the leftmost few lanes, ensuring uninterrupted passage for ETC vehicles while also enabling some toll-free small passenger vehicles to pass quickly.
4. Traffic Peaks May Be Delayed
Off-Peak Travel Is More Relaxing
In previous years, the afternoon before National Day and other holidays was the peak travel time. But this year, the toll-free period begins at 00:00 on the first day of the holiday and ends at 24:00 on the last day. As a result, the traffic peak will be slightly delayed, with the roads likely to be most congested on the first and last days of the holiday.
The transportation authorities also remind everyone that since this is the first time highways are toll-free, car owners planning to travel should try to avoid the traffic peaks on September 30 and October 1, stay away from overly crowded scenic spots, and avoid congestion on highways and scenic area roads, as well as parking difficulties.
Additionally, although this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays combine for an eight-day break, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not included in the toll-free policy for small vehicles on highways. The travel peak is expected to concentrate on the first three days of the seven-day National Day break, with October 1 and 2 mostly seeing cross-province long-distance travelers, and October 3 mainly attracting short-distance travelers within the province.
Industry insiders suggest that if you have more flexible schedules, self-drive travelers should consider resting in the city during the potentially busiest days, or tune into the radio for real-time traffic updates, choosing off-peak hours to travel and avoiding rush times.
5. Increase in New Drivers
Safe and Courteous Driving Is Even More Important
With highways offering free passage for small vehicles, novice drivers who previously avoided highways may hit the road in greater numbers. This means a higher probability of traffic accidents, which could affect the safety and smooth flow of major routes. Moreover, in the period leading up to the end of the toll-free policy, some drivers may resort to speeding or even reckless driving, further increasing accident risks—so extra caution is needed on the road.
As for experienced drivers enjoying the toll-free benefits, you should also heighten your safety awareness, traffic courtesy, and willingness to help others. Take responsibility to help create a harmonious travel environment.
6. Prepare in Advance
Safe Driving
If you've chosen a long-distance, cross-province route, it’s best to have two or three people take turns driving the same car. While enjoying local cuisine at your destination, always remember the principle of “Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive after drinking” to avoid the risks of fatigue driving and drunk driving.
Be fully prepared before setting off—stock up on enough water and snacks in the car. This helps prevent situations where rest stops along national holiday travel routes are overcrowded, parking spots are unavailable, and you’re unable to stop in time to replenish food and drinks.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on variable message signs and electronic displays along the highway. Relevant authorities will promptly release major holiday toll-free travel policies, measures, and related precautions.
7. Book Your Hotel in Advance
Avoid the Embarrassment of Crowds
With tolls waived on highways and a surge in self-driving tours, some popular scenic spots may inevitably face issues such as insufficient parking spaces and fully booked rooms. It is recommended that travelers planning self-drive trips book their accommodations well in advance and set off early to avoid the embarrassment of having no room or no place to park. Xu Wei Yi, manager of domestic operations at Nanhu International Travel Agency, specifically mentioned that self-driving tourists can make good use of travel agency resources. Given that hotel rooms may be fully booked during the National Day holiday, booking rooms, tickets, and other related self-driving tour products in advance ensures accommodation availability while also saving time and effort.
What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down?
The "Implementation Plan for Toll-Free Passage of Small Passenger Vehicles During Major Holidays," issued in August, stipulates that small passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer are exempt from highway tolls during four national statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. This has filled people with anticipation for the upcoming Golden Week holiday.
Reporters learned from various travel agencies in Yibin yesterday that currently, the number of people inquiring at travel agencies has surged, and many travelers have already planned their routes.
“This year there’s no toll fee, which saves costs—I’m really looking forward to the National Day Golden Week,” said Ms. Li, a private car owner from Yibin. The National Day holiday is just around the corner, and she has already made travel plans with her friends. Their destination this time is Lugu Lake, and she has already prepared the travel gear in advance.
With the arrival of the National Day Golden Week, many drivers have opted for self-driving tours, but unexpected situations can arise when traveling by car. What should you do when these situations occur?
Situation 1: Tire Blowout
Tip: Blowouts are more common in the front tires while driving. In such a situation, do not panic, and never slam on the brakes. Grip the steering wheel firmly, try to control the vehicle, and lightly press the brake pedal to avoid putting too much force on the front of the car. Hold the steering wheel steadily so you can quickly correct the car if it veers sharply left or right.
If the rear tire blows out, the back of the car will shake violently and irregularly. Stay calm, do not slam the brakes, grip the steering wheel tightly, and keep the car driving straight.
Additionally, it’s best to use pulse braking to shift the car’s center of gravity forward, allowing the intact front tires to bear more load and reducing the strain on the burst rear tire.
Situation 2: Vehicle Skidding
Tip: If skidding occurs, immediately stop braking and reduce throttle. At the same time, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid. Do not turn too sharply or hold the turn too long, or the vehicle may slide in the opposite direction.
Try not to use the brakes while skidding. For manual transmission vehicles, keep the clutch engaged and use engine braking to slow down. For automatic transmission vehicles, ease off the throttle. To prevent skidding, always drive at a slower speed and do not exceed the specified speed limit based on road conditions.
When driving on slippery roads, every start, stop, and turn must be done slowly to reduce the likelihood of skidding. Use pulse braking instead of slamming the brakes.
Situation 3: Uneven Tire Wear
Tip: Rotate your tires. Because different tires experience varying working conditions and loads—driving wheels carry more load than non-driving wheels, and right-side wheels carry more load than left-side wheels due to right-side driving—issues like the one mentioned above can occur after a certain distance. Follow the car maintenance schedule and rotate your tires in a timely manner. Especially for new cars, tire rotation shortly after initial driving significantly impacts tire lifespan.
Situation 4: Heavy Steering, Vibration, Pulling to One Side, or a Floating, Bumpy, Wobbly Feeling While Driving
Tip: Perform a wheel alignment. In fact, if you notice abnormal tire wear such as one-sided wear, wavy wear, patchy wear, or uneven wear, you should visit a 4S shop for a wheel alignment. Wheel alignment not only helps maintain stable straight-line driving and easy steering but also reduces wear on tires and steering components while driving.
Generally, a wheel alignment should be performed every 10,000 kilometers.