Highway & Expressway Driving Guide

Highways and expressways are where speeds are highest and mistakes are least forgiving. A crash at 100 km/h carries far more energy than one at 50 km/h, and stopped vehicles, wrong-way drivers and tired drivers are the biggest dangers.

The Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 require drivers on a divided highway to use the left carriageway and keep left, require heavy and slow vehicles to use the left lane, and forbid U-turns, reversing and parking on the highway. This section explains how to join and leave safely, keep a long gap, obey posted limits, overtake, rest every two hours and deal with a breakdown, plus toll plazas, FASTag and police checks.

Read Drive Safely on Highways & Expressways and Toll Plazas, FASTag & Police Checks.

Rules in this section

Drive Safely on Highways & Expressways

Join at the speed of traffic, keep left unless overtaking, keep a long gap, obey the posted limit, never stop, reverse or U-turn on the carriageway, and rest every two hours.

Toll Plazas, FASTag & Police Checks

Slow down early at toll plazas, pick your lane in time, keep a working FASTag fixed on the windscreen, and merge carefully afterwards. At police checks, stop safely, show your documents (paper or DigiLocker), and pay fines only through an official e-challan.

Frequently asked questions

Which lane should I drive in on a highway?

On a divided highway use the left carriageway and keep left. Heavy and slow vehicles must use the left lane. Use the right lane to overtake, then return to the left.

What should I do if my car breaks down on a highway?

Switch on the hazard lights and place a warning triangle 50 metres behind the vehicle. Never stop, reverse or make a U-turn on the carriageway. India Drive Safe recommends getting everyone out on the side away from traffic and waiting behind the barrier.

What happens at a toll plaza without a working FASTag?

On National Highways a vehicle without a valid FASTag pays double the toll in cash, or 1.25 times the toll if paid by UPI (from 15 November 2025).

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