What a picnic spot: Chinese travellers make themselves comfortable – in middle of a highway’s emergency lane
PUBLISHED : Friday, 12 February, 2016, 12:08pm
UPDATED : Friday, 12 February, 2016, 1:01pm
Gloria Chan
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Police spotted a group of Chinese people having a picnic after parking their vehicle on the emergency lane of a highway in Sichuan province. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Chinese traffic police on patrol spotted a group of five adults and a child sitting enjoying the mountain scenery while having a picnic – right in the middle of the emergency lane of a highway, mainland media reports.
The group, who had been travelling in a van that was parked illegally on the emergency lane, were seated on chairs around a picnic table on Lasi Highway in the mountainous mainland province of Sichuan, the WCC Daily newspaper reported on Thursday.
It is not known whether the group of picnickers will be punished after illegally parking their vehicle in the middle of the emergency lane. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Photographs taken by police showed the group having a picnic after stopping and parking their vehicle near Shimian county. Litter including discarded tissues had been thrown on the floor next to them.
Police said many motorists like to stop on the highway to have picnics and enjoy the scenery. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Lasi Highway, which runs for 240 km from the Sichuan city of Yaan to Mianning county, which is a popular tourist destination for holidaymakers.
According to the report, more than 34,000 vehicles have passed along the highway everyday since Tuesday, the second day of the new Lunar New Year.
The group of picnickers set out a table and chairs in the middle of the highway’s emergency lane. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Traffic police had found that a number of motorists liked to park their vehicles on the highway’s emergency lane so they could have a rest, and often left behind litter that was difficult to clear up, the report said.
According to mainland laws, emergency lanes should be used only by specific vehicles, such as fire engines, ambulances, and police cars.
All other vehicles are forbidden from entering or stopping on emergency lanes.
The report did not say whether the people caught having a picnic would be punished.
