A draft revision to the Road Traffic Safety Law was presented for its first review at the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on the 25th. The draft, comprising nine chapters and 170 articles, specifies the conditions for self-driving vehicles to operate on roads, principles for handling violations, and the insurance framework. It also targets prominent issues such as drunk driving, distracted driving, abandoned vehicles, and over-standard vehicles, along with the management of electric bicycles and group walking activities, introducing targeted measures. While upholding road traffic safety, the draft also incorporates measures for public convenience to facilitate travel.
The draft introduces a dedicated chapter on autonomous vehicles, clarifying the concepts of self-driving cars and assisted driving functions. It stipulates that if a traffic violation occurs while a self-driving car's autonomous driving function is active, the manufacturer or importer of the vehicle will be responsible for addressing it. Self-driving cars operating without the autonomous function activated, and vehicles with only assisted driving capabilities, will be managed under the rules for non-autonomous vehicles.
The draft outlines measures to address distracted driving and group walking. For actions like making or answering phone calls, or watching videos, that impede safe driving and result in traffic accidents or other serious consequences, a fine ranging from 200 to 500 yuan may be imposed, along with a possible three-month license suspension. Regarding "group walking" activities that occupy roads and affect traffic, the draft states that no unit or individual may occupy roads for non-traffic activities without permission.
The draft also proposes adjusting the speed limit for electric bicycles, raising the maximum speed on non-motorized lanes from 15 kilometers per hour to 20 kilometers per hour. It explicitly prohibits electric bicycle riders from reversing, speeding, violating traffic signals, or engaging in behaviors like making or answering phone calls and watching videos while on the road. Additionally, the draft mandates that both riders and passengers of electric bicycles wear safety helmets in accordance with regulations.