Cherished Number Plates News

Beijing’s new number plate laws to reduce pollution

14 November 2008

Traffic restrictions have been re-introduced in China's capital Beijing, in an attempt to bring back the clear skies seen during the Olympics this summer. Each car must spend one day a week off the road, in a scheme based on registration numbers; a watered down version of the restrictions seen during the prestigious event where every second car was taken off the road each day.

Perhaps the residents of the densely populated capital are now missing the clean air, clear skies and emptier roads as it returns to normal life. According to those in-charge of the new schemes are predicting that a massive 800,000 cars will be taken off the road each day.

"It's expected to reduce Beijing's average road traffic flow by 6.5%," a committee official told the state news agency Xingu.

During periods when the pollution in the city is expected to increase dramatically, the restrictions will be increased dramatist to take almost half of the cities cars off the road.

The system works by not allowing any car with a number plate ending in a certain number to drive on that day. So for example, if the numbers for a Tuesday are two and seven, any car with a number plate ending with two and seven will not be allowed to drive. However, they will be allowed to drive on Wednesday, as the numbers will be different.

The new restrictions are being implemented on a trial basis for six months until April of 2009, where by a decision will be made to either scrap the plan or keep it in action for a further length of time. Many are hopeful that the move will diminish the image of Beijing as a dirty, smog covered urban city.

A similar scheme is also being implemented in the city of Shanghai, to reduce the pollution levels there.

As for Beijing, this move may well be a drop in the ocean with an increasing figure or 1,000 cars joining the already crowded roads per day!