China's traffic authorities have punished offenders in more than 60,000 cases of illegally occupying emergency lanes on highways during the current week-long holiday.

The police launched a campaign targeting drivers using the emergency lane during the week-long National Day holiday, following a case where vehicles blocking the lane prevented rescue efforts and resulted in a death.

To date, violators have been punished in a total of 53,000 cases of illegal driving and 7,000 cases of illegal parking on emergency lanes, Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement yesterday.

The authority also called on drivers to abide by traffic regulations and pledged severe punishments for violations.

A driver stuck in a cab after a rear-end accident died due to delayed rescue efforts on a highway in Zhejiang Province last week due to congestion in the emergency lane, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Freeways in China dedicate the right lane as an emergency lane, but some drivers ignore this rule on crowded roads.

Highways are more congested during holidays, when all roads are toll free. The week-long holidays to celebrate the National Day will end today.