Accidents & Emergencies in China: Police 122, Highway Towing 12122 & Rapid Settlement
A comprehensive, legally compliant handbook for handling vehicle breakdowns, collisions, and medical emergencies while driving in Mainland China. Learn the mandatory nine-word highway survival protocol, the 5-photo Rapid Settlement procedure, official 12122 expressway towing rates, and rental insurance claim workflows.
Official Chinese Road Emergency Hotline Directory
Direct statutory hotlines operating nationwide with 24/7 emergency dispatch centers
Traffic Police Accident Hotline
Urban and regional road traffic collisions, dispute resolution, hit-and-run reporting, and traffic police dispatch.
Dial directly from any Chinese SIM or roaming phone without country prefix. State exact road name, intersection, or kilometer post.
Expressway Emergency & Towing
Mechanical breakdown, flat tire, running out of fuel/battery, or collisions occurring strictly on controlled-access expressways.
Dispatches official provincial expressway emergency rescue and heavy flatbed recovery tow trucks. Private towing is illegal on highways.
Emergency Medical Service (Ambulance)
Severe physical trauma, unconscious passengers, bleeding injuries, or vehicle entrapment requiring medical extraction.
State the precise count of injured persons, apparent consciousness, and prominent roadside landmarks or highway kilometer markers.
Public Security Emergency Line
Criminal threats, violent disputes, vehicle theft, intentional road rage, or when 122 traffic line is busy.
The national omnibus police dispatcher. Operators can immediately transfer calls or bridge to English-speaking translation units.
Expressway Breakdown & Breakdown Safety Protocols
The statutory Nine-Word Golden Rule and warning triangle regulations
The National Expressway Safety Standard: “车靠边、人撤离、即报警”
Life Safety Rule #1If the vehicle is mobile, steer immediately into the rightmost emergency hard shoulder (应急车道). Turn on double hazard flashers (危险报警闪光灯) immediately.
Never remain inside or near the car! All occupants must immediately hop over the right-side steel guardrail onto the exterior embankment, facing oncoming traffic.
Only after all persons stand safely behind the steel guardrail, dial 12122 (expressway towing) or 122 (traffic police). State the green kilometer marker post.
Warning Triangle Placement Distance (三角警示牌)
Place the red reflective triangle strictly 150 meters behind your vehicle on daytime expressways, and 200 meters behind at night or during rain/fog. On urban surface streets, place it 50 to 100 meters behind.
Immediate Evacuation Behind Highway Guardrail (护栏外)
Never sit, stand, or retrieve luggage inside a disabled car on an expressway. All passengers must immediately climb over the right-side steel guardrail and stand facing oncoming traffic.
Strict Prohibition on Private Highway Towing
Third-party commercial tow trucks and private rope-towing are strictly prohibited on Chinese expressways. Only licensed provincial expressway rescue flatbeds dispatched by 12122 can operate on highways.
Expressway Emergency Protocol Sign: “车靠边 人撤离 即报警”
高速公路防二次事故生命九字口诀高空安全提示牌
Ministry of Public Security accident data reveals that over 60% of expressway fatalities occur not during the initial collision, but during catastrophic secondary impacts (二次事故) when occupants stand arguing behind stopped vehicles. The 9-character mantra was legislated as a national safety directive to drill instantaneous evacuation behind steel barriers.
Posted on roadside cantilever posts, tunnel approach portals, bridge guardrails, and overhead variable electronic LED matrix gantries every 5 to 10 kilometers along all national expressways (G-series) across China.
Never remain in the vehicle or examine bumper scratches in live traffic lanes. If the car can roll, guide it onto the hard shoulder and turn on hazards. Every passenger must vault over the outer steel guardrail immediately, stand on the grassy embankment facing traffic, and only then dial 12122 or 122!
Statutory 150-Meter Reflective Hazard Triangle Placement
车辆后方150米规范摆放三角警示牌与双闪警示
At 120 km/h, a moving vehicle travels 33.3 meters every single second. Perception-reaction time (1.5s) combined with braking distance on highway asphalt requires over 100 meters. The 150-meter legal requirement ensures approaching high-speed drivers receive a full 4 to 5 seconds of advance visual warning to brake or change lanes.
Located in the spare tire well or trunk side pocket of every licensed rental vehicle in China. Required behind any vehicle stopped on expressways, elevated highways, national highways, or rural roads.
Daytime expressway: 150 meters behind the car. Night or rain/fog: 200 meters behind. Crucial safety rule: Never walk backward along the live highway travel lane to set up the triangle! Walk outside the steel guardrail with the unfolded triangle facing traffic, step over the rail at the 150m mark, place it firmly in the shoulder lane, and step back outside the barrier immediately. Failing to set up the triangle incurs an automatic 200 RMB fine + 3 demerit points!
Expressway Kilometer Post & 100-Meter Marker Post
高速公路绿色公里桩与护栏百米桩（12122精准救援定位坐标）
In deep mountain river valleys, tunnels, and remote gorges, smartphone GPS coordinates frequently experience signal drift or lack cellular data connectivity. Physical standardized kilometer posts provide unequivocal ground telemetry that police and towing dispatchers use to pinpoint your breakdown location down to the nearest 100 meters.
Large rectangular green signs stand on the right shoulder every 1 kilometer. Smaller white circular or rectangular plates with green digits are affixed to the steel guardrails every 100 meters on all controlled-access expressways nationwide.
When dialing 12122 or 122, read these 3 numbers verbatim: (1) Expressway Code: e.g. G42 or G5; (2) Direction of Travel: e.g. Heading toward Chengdu (往成都方向); (3) Kilometer & Meter mark: e.g. “K1024 + 300米”. The dispatcher will instantly route the nearest official emergency tow truck directly to your location.
Minor Accident Rapid Settlement (“快处快赔”) Workflow
The 5-photo statutory clearance procedure for minor fender-benders without injuries
Confirm No Personal Injuries & Vehicles Remain Drivable
Rapid Settlement (快处快赔) applies strictly to minor property-damage collisions (rear-end taps, lane-merge fender benders) where nobody is hurt, both drivers possess valid licenses, and neither driver is intoxicated.
Capture Mandatory 5-Angle Photographic Evidence Within 3 Minutes
Before moving cars to the roadside, step out safely and capture 5 clear photos with your smartphone camera to establish geometric fault.
Move Vehicles to the Shoulder to Prevent Secondary Collisions
Once photos are captured, Article 70 of the PRC Road Traffic Safety Law mandates moving both vehicles to the right shoulder or nearest parking bay within 5 minutes.
File Digital Claim via Traffic Police App 12123 or Insurer Hotline
Open the "Traffic Management 12123" (交管12123) mini-program/app or call your rental company’s emergency line. Both drivers upload photos for rapid digital liability determination.
Notify Car Rental Dispatch Hotline Before Authorizing Repairs
Immediately call your rental agency emergency hotline (e.g. Zuche 400-616-6666 / eHi 400-888-6666). Transmit the police liability certificate and photos.
Do not move vehicles or attempt rapid settlement if: (1) Any person suffered physical injuries or loss of consciousness; (2) Either driver cannot produce a valid driving permit; (3) Any driver exhibits signs of alcohol intoxication or drug use; (4) Either vehicle lacks valid license plates or registration; (5) Public infrastructure (guardrails, toll booths, streetlamps) was destroyed. In all these cases, preserve the scene and await on-site 122 police investigation.
In a Minor Fender Bender? Never Settle Privately
Settling privately with third-party drivers without official 122 traffic police photos or an official liability determination letter (事故认定书) will void your rental collision damage waiver (CDW), leaving you with high out-of-pocket repair bills. Under our $99 On-Road Support, you can text our WhatsApp channel (08:00–22:00 CST) for step-by-step guidance on mandatory photo angles and official reporting procedures required by Chinese rental companies.
Rental Car Insurance Claims & Fault Allocation Types
Following any collision, Chinese traffic police issue an official legal document: the “Traffic Accident Liability Determination Letter” (道路交通事故认定书). This forms the sole legal basis for all insurance payouts:
Assigned for standard rear-end hits, reversing on highways, running red lights, or crossing solid lines. Your insurer pays all parties.
Assigned when your violation was the primary cause, while the second driver had a secondary contributing fault.
Both drivers committed equal infractions (e.g. both changing into the center lane simultaneously and colliding).
You drove with complete legal compliance (e.g. stopped at a red light and got rear-ended). The other party’s insurance pays 100%.
Official 12122 Expressway Rescue Flatbed Recovery Truck
高速公路官方12122应急清障黄牌一拖二平板救援车
Under Article 67 of the PRC Road Traffic Safety Law, unauthorized private tow trucks, insurance club wreckers, and personal tow straps are strictly illegal on all Chinese expressways. This ban prevents predatory roadside towing monopolies, safety hazards, and catastrophic shoulder collisions. Only provincial transportation rescue teams dispatched via 12122 can operate on highways.
Staged at expressway toll gate compounds, highway maintenance depots (养护工区), and major interchange monitoring hubs along G-series and S-series motorways across all Chinese provinces.
Never accept towing from opportunistic private trucks that stop unexpectedly. Dial 12122. Rates are standardized by provincial pricing bureaus (typically 200–400 RMB base hook fee + 10–25 RMB/km). The crew will load your vehicle onto the hydraulic flatbed and transport all passengers off the expressway to the nearest toll station or designated maintenance partner.
Official Traffic Accident Liability Determination Certificate Slip
交警总队盖章版《道路交通事故认定书（简易程序）》
Under Chinese insurance law, commercial underwriters cannot process any collision or property damage claim without an official fault allocation decision issued by the Ministry of Public Security Traffic Police Brigade. The stamped slip specifies the exact statutory violation, involved parties, and legal liability percentage (100%, 70%, 50%, or 0%).
Printed directly at the scene from a mobile police terminal for minor collisions, or collected from the local Traffic Police Brigade Accident Mediation Office (交警大队事故处理中队) following formal investigation.
Inspect the slip carefully: confirm your passport name, rental license plate, and the red official police circular seal (公章). Sign your acknowledgement. Do NOT lose this document! Take clear phone photos immediately and forward them to your car rental claims coordinator. Rental companies cannot waive vehicle repair deductibles without this physical or certified digital slip.
Mountain Gorge & High-Plateau Wilderness Emergencies
Rescue protocols for G318, G219, western Sichuan alpine passes, and extreme weather entrapment
Geological Road Blocks (落石/塌方)
During summer monsoon season (July–August), steep gorges along the Dadu, Yarlung Tsangpo, and Nu rivers experience localized rockfalls. When a roadblock occurs, local Highway Maintenance Bureaus (公路养护段) and armed emergency rescue teams mobilize heavy excavators within hours.
Acute Mountain Sickness (高原反应)
Ascending passes above 4,000m (e.g. Haizi Mountain at 4,685m or Dongda Mountain at 5,130m) can induce acute altitude sickness (AMS), pulmonary edema, or extreme dizziness.
Snowbound & Black Ice (暗冰/暴雪)
Sudden alpine blizzards can turn passes into solid ice sheets overnight. Traffic police establish mandatory check gates requiring all vehicles to mount tire chains (防滑链) before proceeding over mountain summits.
Bilingual Emergency Dialogue Cards for Drivers
Show these cards directly on your phone screen to police officers, paramedics, or fellow drivers
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Accidents & Emergencies
Factual statutory answers on police liability, emergency towing, breathalyzers, and insurance
Q1.What is the immediate priority if my rental car breaks down on a Chinese expressway?
Remember the official national nine-word safety protocol: "车靠边、人撤离、即报警" (Vehicle to the shoulder, people evacuate behind the guardrail, call police immediately). (1) Steer your vehicle onto the rightmost emergency hard shoulder (应急车道) and activate hazard double-flashers (双闪灯); (2) Evacuate all passengers over the right-side steel barrier onto the grassy embankment facing traffic; (3) Walk carefully along the outer guardrail 150 meters (200m at night/fog) behind your car to set up the reflective warning triangle; (4) Dial 12122 for expressway rescue.
Q2.How do I call 122 traffic police if I cannot speak fluent Mandarin Chinese?
Dial 122 (or 110) directly. Speak clearly in English: "English please, traffic accident." Dispatchers in tier-1/2 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu) have on-duty English-speaking officers or can immediately patch in third-party simultaneous interpretation services. If language barriers persist, use a translation app to state your highway name, kilometer post, or hand your phone to a cooperative bilingual driver nearby.
Q3.How do I identify my exact location when stranded on a Chinese expressway?
Look at the green metal posts along the right-side guardrail or center divider: (1) The small round green sign with a number indicates the exact kilometer marker (e.g. "G4 1042" means National Highway 4, Kilometer 1042); (2) Below it is a smaller rectangular sign with "+100", "+200", indicating meters past that kilometer; (3) Open Amap (高德地图); your current GPS pinpoint displays your exact highway name, driving direction (e.g. "G50 Shanghai Direction"), and mileage post.
Q4.What is "Rapid Settlement" (快处快赔), and when is it legally permitted?
Rapid Settlement is China’s statutory fast-track procedure for minor property-damage collisions (scratched bumpers, minor rear-ends) without bodily injuries. Drivers take 5 photos from prescribed angles within 3 minutes, immediately move vehicles off active lanes to the shoulder, and submit photos through the "Traffic Police 12123" app or directly to insurance adjusters. This avoids waiting hours for on-site police and prevents a 200 RMB fine for obstructing traffic.
Q5.What happens if a collision involves physical injury or disputed liability?
Do NOT move the vehicles! Turn on hazard flashers, place the warning triangle 150m behind, dial 120 (ambulance) and 122 (police), and preserve the scene. Traffic police will arrive with collision investigation specialists, measure tire skid marks, review dashcam and overhead electronic surveillance footage, conduct mandatory alcohol breathalyzer testing on both drivers, and issue an official "Traffic Accident Liability Determination Letter" (道路交通事故认定书).
Q6.How does fault liability allocation work in Chinese traffic law?
The traffic police assign fault based on statutory violations under the Road Traffic Safety Law: (1) Full Liability (全责 - 100%): assigned in standard rear-end collisions, running red lights, wrong-way driving, or crossing solid lane lines; (2) Major Liability (主责 - 70%) vs Minor Liability (次责 - 30%): assigned when both parties violate rules with varying gravity; (3) Equal Liability (同等责任 - 50% / 50%): split evenly between both parties; (4) No Fault (无责 - 0%): assigned to the fully compliant driver.
Q7.Does my rental car Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) cover third-party damage?
Standard basic CDW (车损险) typically covers damage to your rental vehicle body with a statutory deductible (e.g. 1,500 RMB). Third-party property damage and bodily injury are covered by Compulsory Third-Party Liability Insurance (交强险, up to 200,000 RMB) and Commercial Third-Party Insurance (商业三者险, recommended 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 RMB). Always purchase the rental agency’s "Full Cover / Zero Deductible" (无忧全险) package to eliminate out-of-pocket liabilities.
Q8.How much does official expressway emergency towing (12122) cost?
Expressway towing in China is government-regulated by provincial pricing bureaus to prevent price gouging. Standard towing for passenger cars starts with a base fee (起步价) of approximately 300 to 500 RMB (covering the first 10 kilometers), plus 10 to 20 RMB per additional kilometer, towed strictly to the nearest highway exit or authorized repair center. Request an official invoice (发票) to submit for insurance reimbursement.
Q9.Can private tow trucks tow vehicles off a Chinese expressway?
No! Private tow trucks, auto club wreckers, and towing with personal straps are strictly forbidden on Chinese expressways under Article 67 of the Traffic Safety Law. Only official provincial expressway rescue teams dispatched via the 12122 hotline possess legal authorization to hook and tow vehicles on controlled-access highways.
Q10.What should I do if the other driver tries to settle with private cash (私了)?
For tiny scratches under 200–300 RMB, drivers occasionally settle via WeChat transfer. However, as an international traveler driving a rental vehicle, you should NEVER accept or pay private cash settlements without notifying your rental company! Rental contracts stipulate that undeclared repairs or unauthorized settlements void your CDW insurance policy, leaving you liable for rental vehicle depreciation or subrogation claims.
Q11.Is blood alcohol testing mandatory after every traffic collision in China?
Yes. China enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against drunk driving (Article 133 of Criminal Law). Following any reported collision, arriving traffic police officers will administer electronic breathalyzer tests to all drivers. Refusing a breathalyzer test results in immediate police detention and mandatory hospital blood extraction. Any BAC above 20mg/100mL constitutes DUI (fine + permit suspension), and above 80mg/100mL constitutes Criminal Drunk Driving (immediate arrest and criminal conviction).
Q12.What documentation must I present to traffic police following an accident?
You must present: (1) Your original passport; (2) Valid Chinese Driving Permit (or Provisional Permit / 临时机动车驾驶许可); (3) Vehicle Registration Certificate (机动车行驶证, kept in the glove compartment); (4) Vehicle Compulsory Insurance Certificate (交强险保单) or rental agreement dispatch sheet.
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