
2020 Shenzhen latest traffic restriction regulations: 1. Restricted hours are weekday morning and evening peak periods from 7:00 to 9:00, and 17:30 to 19:30 (no restrictions during other time periods); 2. Restricted vehicles are passenger cars with non-local license plates; 3. Restricted area covers the entire Shenzhen area (excluding expressways, port access roads, and some airport roads). Exempted non-local vehicle types: 1. Military vehicles, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and engineering rescue vehicles on duty; 2. Passenger transport vehicles with road transport certificates (excluding rental cars); 3. Hong Kong license plate vehicles (including Hong Kong-mainland dual plates and mainland-Hong Kong plates) and embassy/consulate license plate vehicles.

As a commuter working in Shenzhen in 2020, I personally experienced the city's strict traffic restriction policies. Back then, Shenzhen implemented driving bans for vehicles with non-local license plates during weekday rush hours: 7:00-9:00 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM from Monday to Friday. I remember once driving a friend's car into the city for errands and getting fined for not checking the time—a costly lesson. These regulations primarily aim to ease rush hour congestion and reduce accident risks. I'd recommend using public transport/subways or adjusting schedules to avoid peak times, such as leaving half an hour earlier or bypassing main urban routes. Regularly checking updates on the Shenzhen Traffic Police website helps avoid unnecessary penalties. Overall, these measures benefit urban efficiency but do pose extra challenges for drivers like me.

After living in Shenzhen for several years, I became very familiar with the 2020 traffic restriction rules. The restrictions apply to vehicles with non-local license plates, only during specific time slots on weekdays from Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM in the morning and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the evening. This design aims to control excessive vehicle flow in the city's core areas and prevent traffic paralysis. There are no restrictions on weekends, so friends from out of town can drive without worry when visiting. I often advise my neighbors that it's better to use shared bikes or ride-hailing services as alternatives, and if driving is necessary, to avoid the morning and evening rush hours. Remembering the time slots is quite straightforward, and usually, just checking whether the vehicle has a local license plate is enough. Although the traffic restriction rules seem minor, they subtly improve overall travel order, making daily commutes a bit easier.

When I first got my driver's license in 2020 and drove in Shenzhen, I learned about the local traffic restrictions: non-local vehicles were prohibited during weekday evenings from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, as well as weekday mornings from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. As a new driver, I was quite afraid of violating the rules and getting fined, so I made sure to avoid these time slots. The regulations mainly aim to ease traffic congestion during peak commuting hours and reduce vehicle emissions.

During my trip to Shenzhen by car in 2020, I learned about the traffic restriction policy: non-local vehicles are prohibited from driving on urban roads from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on weekdays (Monday to Friday). I almost got caught in rush hour traffic downtown, but fortunately parked roadside and switched to public transport. This rule helps manage urban traffic flow, requiring non-local drivers to plan ahead or use alternative transportation.


