Cherished Number Plates News

Shanghai to Use Olympic Number Plate Method

05 November 2008

During the Olympic Games of 2008 when media attention was focused on Tibet protestors, athletic achievement and Beijing’s troublesome pollution problem. Top government officials ruled that only cars with either an even or odd number plate number could drive on any particular day. Despite some congestion at peak hours, the new system was a success and has paved the way for other cities to stand up and take notice.

The city of Shanghai, whom also has a bad pollution problem, has announced its very own plans to reduce traffic congestion using number plates. The new system is said to be a ‘watered-down’ version of the system used during the Olympic Games.

The ‘even and odd number’ system will be applied to all state and semi-state vehicles whom make up a large proportion of the traffic in Shanghai. They will also be encouraging the local population to use the system on their own transport choices in a bid to further quell the growing congestion; however, no legal laws have been put forward to stop the population driving their cars whenever they wish.

"Shanghai's private vehicles are encouraged to follow the restrictions", Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying.

When the new traffic restrictions were introduced in the capital last Monday, up to 800,000 cars were taken off the road but many junctions were still congested at peak hours.