China's Road Traffic Safety Law gets first systematic overhaul
道路交通安全法首次系统性“大修”
On August 25, 2026, a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law was submitted for first reading to the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee. The revision, the first systematic overhaul since the law took effect in 2004, addresses autonomous vehicles, electric bicycle speed limits, penalties for distracted driving and street racing, and nuisances like 'door-opening kills' and 'zombie cars'. Xinhua frames the changes as balancing safety with modern needs and improving public convenience.
The view from inside
The article presents the revision as a necessary and timely response to growing vehicle numbers (4.76 billion motor vehicles, 4897 million new energy vehicles) and emerging issues like autonomous driving.
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