China deliberates major Road Traffic Safety Law amendments

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress has held its first deliberation on a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law. This systematic revision, the first major update since the law's implementation in 2004, consists of nine chapters and 170 articles.

Key proposed changes include increasing the maximum speed limit for electric bicycles in non-motor vehicle lanes from 15 km/h to 20 km/h. The draft also mandates the use of safety helmets for both riders and passengers and prohibits behaviors such as riding against traffic, speeding, or using handheld phones and watching videos while operating an electric bicycle.

Regarding motor vehicles, the draft introduces stricter penalties for “blind driving,” such as watching videos while driving, which could result in fines and license suspensions if accidents occur. For autonomous vehicles, the amendment specifies that when autonomous functions are activated, the vehicle manufacturer or importer will be responsible for handling traffic violations.

Additionally, the draft aims to regulate “walking groups” (fitness groups) that occupy motor or non-motor vehicle lanes without permission, asserting that roads should not be used for unauthorized fitness activities. The revision also addresses long-standing issues including drunk driving, “zombie vehicles,” and non-compliant vehicles.