The eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day break, coupled with the first nationwide policy exempting small passenger vehicles from highway tolls, has significantly boosted the National Day travel market. Public enthusiasm for travel is high, and car rental businesses are booming. However, while welcoming this people-friendly policy, people are also concerned about whether the influx of travelers will lead to traffic congestion.
What is the critical point for the start of the free highway toll period? What preparations should you make before hitting the road? What should you pay attention to when driving on the highway? China News Service’s Life Channel will explain these hot topics one by one, providing travel references for those "gearing up" for self-driving trips.
1. Policy Interpretation: Tolls are still collected at entry, but the free period cutoff is based on your departure time
According to regulations from the Ministry of Transport regarding toll exemptions on highways during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, during the free period for small vehicles with fewer than seven seats, highway toll stations (points) across the country will continue to operate under the management model of “collecting cards at entry and returning them at exit.” Under the implementation plan, the nationwide free toll period for small passenger vehicles on highways is uniformly set from 00:00 on September 30 to 24:00 on October 7.
So, is the free toll period based on your vehicle's entry time or exit time? According to a report by the Yangcheng Evening News on the 17th, under the new free policy, the 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 is important to note that the timing of the free toll is based on when your vehicle exits the toll lane. In other words, even if you enter the highway before 00:00 on September 30 (i.e., during the non-free period), as long as you exit after 00:00 on September 30, you can still travel for free. Conversely, if you haven’t exited the highway by 24:00 on October 7, tolls will be charged according to the regular rules. Return travelers must plan their timing carefully.
In case of traffic jams or queues when exiting the highway, you might miss the free period. Therefore, it is recommended that travelers schedule their trips with some flexibility. If you really can't make it within the free period, do not risk speeding to try to catch it. Instead, consider exiting the highway just before the cutoff time and re-entering afterward, which can still save you some toll fees.
2. Pre-departure Preparations: Comprehensive Vehicle Check and Understanding Highway Conditions
Going on a self-driving trip is exciting and requires early planning. With the first toll-free holiday, preparation is even more essential.
First, plan your trip thoroughly and familiarize yourself with the route. Before setting off, check online which highway toll station leads to your destination and don’t miss your exit—avoid reversing on the highway. Don’t miss the optimal time to rest just because you’re unsure when you’ll next get a break, as that could lead to fatigued driving.
Second, conduct a full vehicle inspection before your trip. According to a report by the Huaxi Metropolitan Daily on the 17th, common checks self-driving travelers perform before a trip include: ensuring the engine is functioning properly; verifying all lights work correctly; confirming the braking system is operational; checking that fuel is topped up—this is especially critical on highways, particularly at night. Bringing your own gasoline is not recommended. Inspect for oil or gasoline leaks, and check if fuel lines are aging; ensure windshield wipers function properly; inspect tires for cracks, cuts, and proper tire pressure; check for any looseness in the tires and don’t forget about the spare tire—essential for long trips in case of emergencies. Inflate the spare tire if it hasn’t been used in a while. Also, make sure you have the spare car key in case the main door locks you out.
3. Driving on Highways: At Least Two Drivers Per Vehicle, Avoid Night Driving When Possible
According to Ming Meng, deputy head of the Chongqing Traffic Law Enforcement Corps, authorities expect highway traffic in Chongqing during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday to increase by 30% compared to the same period last year.
Ming Meng reminds those about to drive on highways to note the following: first, check online which highway toll station leads to your destination before setting off and do not miss your exit—avoid reversing on the highway; second, avoid driving for extended periods in the far-left lane, as it is close to the highway median and collisions with guardrails are more likely in emergencies, affecting other vehicles’ ability to overtake and making it hard to pull over near exits or when needing to stop temporarily; third, try to reduce driving in rainy weather as improper handling of water on the road can easily lead to accidents; fourth, avoid night driving when possible, as it increases fatigue risk and impairs visibility—if your eyesight isn’t ideal, it becomes even more dangerous; fifth, take breaks at highway service areas to relax and check your vehicle condition—random stopping on the main highway is not allowed.
Li Haiying, deputy general manager of Chongqing Expressway Group Co., Ltd., also reminds drivers that tunnels are historically high-risk areas for accidents. Driving too fast means drivers may experience two seconds of "blackout" upon entering a tunnel, which requires caution.
Additionally, the expressway group kindly advises that during the toll-free period, toll stations—especially major ones—may experience significant congestion. To ease delays, observe signs and variable message boards or electronic displays in advance, quickly enter dedicated lanes, and avoid frequent lane changes.
Moreover, according to the Huaxi Metropolitan Daily on the 17th, it’s important to maintain safe speeds when driving on highways. It is recommended that each vehicle has at least two drivers, allowing them to switch every 100 kilometers to prevent fatigue; when encountering large trucks, avoid driving alongside them for extended periods, and overtaking decisively is safer.
When driving on less-traveled roads such as national highways or rural paths, stay alert around two-wheeled motor vehicles and animal-drawn carts—drivers often lack traffic awareness. Maintain a safe distance to avoid unnecessary trouble.
4. Tips for Driving on Highways
A. Avoid Fatigued Driving
Always prioritize safety when traveling, especially during the first toll-free National Day holiday, when highway traffic is expected to surge significantly compared to previous years. To ensure safety, drivers must avoid fatigued driving.
According to the Huaxi Metropolitan Daily, there are many causes of fatigued driving. Travelers should learn about these and try to avoid the following situations:
First, being overly excited before the trip or experiencing sleep deprivation for other reasons, leading to temporary mental blanks while driving, which can cause accidents.
Second, failing to plan your journey in advance or understand road conditions, so you don’t know when you can rest, thus missing the best opportunity for a break and causing fatigued driving.
Third, maintaining high concentration throughout the drive while constantly staring at the highway center line can create visual and psychological strain, leading to fatigued driving, among other issues.
When signals of fatigue appear during long or short trips, it is advised to park the vehicle, get out, and take a short walk around the area or in a service area for a few minutes. If you still feel tired, take a nap in the vehicle before continuing.
B. Stagger Your Travel Times – 5 Ways to Avoid Congestion
According to the Guangzhou Daily, industry insiders indicate that due to the toll exemption, highway traffic during this year’s National Day is expected to increase by at least 30%. Traffic will be heaviest on the first and last days of the holiday. Officials from the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway analyzed that the toll exemption could lead to three scenarios: first, to take advantage of the discount, drivers may postpone their trips from September 29 to the morning of September 30, creating a peak in outbound traffic; second, on October 6 and 7, the last two days of the holiday, drivers concerned about missing the free period may return during these days, resulting in a peak in return traffic; third, to avoid the “start and end” holiday traffic peaks, some drivers may choose to travel during mid-period days, which could lead to consistently heavy traffic throughout the holiday.
Tips to avoid congestion:
Avoid returning before 10:00 PM on the 29th or on October 6th.
It is understood that many vehicle owners plan to drive onto the highway and head home on the evening before Mid-Autumn Festival, i.e., the evening of the 29th. Staff at toll stations of the provincial expressway management company stated that it is expected that many vehicle owners will hit the road before midnight on the 30th. This allows them to enjoy toll discounts upon arrival and also helps avoid the heavier traffic peak in the early morning of the 30th. The last two days of the holiday, October 6th and 7th, will see another peak in return traffic. Travelers may consider avoiding these peak hours when planning their trips.
Avoid entrances and exits of major cities
Stay updated on road conditions, such as by listening to the radio, and avoid traveling during peak hours. According to predictions by the provincial transportation investment group, traffic volume is expected to increase by about 20%–30% during the National Day holiday. Especially at the expressway entrances and exits of large cities with high vehicle ownership, congestion may worsen. It is advisable to plan alternative routes to bypass these sections.
It is recommended to get a toll card
The free policy is based on the number of seats indicated on the vehicle’s registration certificate, not the actual number of passengers or the number of modified seats. If you don’t take a toll card and the barrier is simply lifted, accidents may occur if other paying vehicles try to break through. Secondly, for vehicles that enter the highway just before the end of the free period, failure to take a toll card may lead to disputes when exiting, as it will be difficult to determine eligibility for the free policy.
Be sure to drive on the left when approaching toll stations
The Ministry of Transport requires that appropriate signs be set up in front of toll plazas, indicating “Small passenger vehicles keep left, large buses and trucks keep right,” along with directional arrows, to guide traffic in advance and separate lanes. Additionally, identification signs reading “Lane for 7-seater and smaller passenger vehicles” should be placed in front of designated free lanes at toll stations, guiding small passenger vehicles and other eligible vehicles to stay in the left lane in advance to avoid delays caused by using the wrong lane.
For toll stations with heavy traffic and suitable conditions, unified setup of dedicated free lanes for small passenger vehicles during major holidays on the left side of the toll plaza is encouraged, to ensure separate lanes for paying and non-paying vehicles.
Use ETC lanes for quick passage
The Ministry of Transport requires that at highway toll stations with heavy traffic but low ETC lane usage during major holidays, additional staff be deployed and technical or managerial measures be taken. While ensuring uninterrupted passage for ETC vehicles, some small passenger vehicles eligible for free passage may also be guided to use ETC lanes quickly, thereby improving ETC lane efficiency. In other words, free vehicles may appropriately use ETC lanes for faster passage. However, those who have applied for ETC services in advance and use the ETC lane will enjoy even quicker passage.
Reminder: Guangdong United Electronic Services Co., Ltd., which manages the ETC lane system, stated that its technical team is currently making backend improvements to the ETC system so it can automatically distinguish between free ETC passenger vehicles and paying ETC vehicles. The upgrade is expected to be completed by mid-month, before the Mid-Autumn Festival.