Drivers are being reminded to reduce the risk of fatigued driving by managing how long they drive and maintaining their physical condition, as violations could lead to penalties under a new set of rules.

The Rules for Identification of Fatigue Driving of Motor Vehicle Drivers, released by China's Ministry of Public Security in January and set to take effect on June 1, provide clearer definitions of fatigued driving, investigation procedures and the types of evidence that can be used after traffic accidents. The document aims to improve safety for drivers, passengers and the public.

According to the rules, drivers who operate a vehicle for more than four consecutive hours without a break, or who take a break of less than 20 minutes, are considered to be driving while fatigued.

For passenger vehicle drivers, the rules are stricter between 10 pm and 6 am. During those hours, driving for more than two consecutive hours without a break, or taking a break of less than 20 minutes, also constitutes fatigued driving. In addition, passenger vehicle drivers who drive for more than eight hours within any 24-hour period are considered fatigued.

Traffic police may identify a driver as fatigued if monitoring equipment detects that the driver's eyelids were closed for more than two seconds within the 10 minutes before an accident, or if the driver appears tired or confused during questioning. Other indicators include insufficient sleep, heavy physical or mental activity, the use of sedating medication, or intense exercise such as hiking within the 24 hours before driving.

Under China's traffic violation points system, freight vehicle drivers who drive for more than four hours without a proper break will receive a three-point penalty on their driver's licenses. For drivers of medium-sized or large passenger vehicles, or vehicles transporting hazardous materials, the penalty is nine points.

Under the system, traffic authorities impose fines and apply a rolling 12-month points system with a maximum of 12 points. Drivers who lose all 12 points must undergo further training and pass a test before being allowed to drive again.