New Fatigue Driving Rules Clarify Scope: Ride-Hailing and Taxis Exempt from 8-Hour Daily Driving Limit

The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that the "Rules for Identifying Fatigued Driving by Motor Vehicle Drivers" (GA/T 2372–2026) will take effect on June 1, 2026. This standard applies to the identification of fatigued driving in road traffic accident investigations and handling. According to the standard, passenger vehicle drivers who drive continuously for more than two hours between 22:00 and 06:00 the following day without taking a rest or resting for less than 20 minutes, or who accumulate more than eight hours of driving within any 24-hour period, shall be deemed as engaging in fatigued driving. However, these provisions—based on the "Safety Management Regulations for Road Passenger Transport Enterprises"—apply only to scheduled bus services, chartered bus services, and tourist bus services, and do not cover taxis or ride-hailing vehicles. For freight vehicle drivers, the standard does not introduce specific new requirements; instead, the general provision under Article 62(7) of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law" remains applicable: driving a motor vehicle continuously for more than four hours without stopping for rest, or resting for less than 20 minutes, constitutes fatigued driving. The new rules adopt a three-dimensional assessment approach combining "driving behavior + physiological condition + daily activity patterns." Meeting any one of these criteria is sufficient to identify a driver as fatigued, aiming to enhance the accuracy of fatigue determination in accident investigations.