What are the traffic restrictions for non-local vehicles on Shanghai's elevated roads in 2020?
2 Answers
In 2020, the traffic restrictions for non-local vehicles on Shanghai's elevated roads are in effect from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays. Non-local passenger vehicles with out-of-town license plates, temporary license plates, unoccupied taxis, and vehicles driven by drivers in their probationary period are prohibited from entering certain elevated roads, except on weekends and national holidays. Elevated roads, also known as overhead roads, viaducts, or overpasses, are constructed above ground level to avoid ground-level obstacles where traditional bridges or roads cannot be built. They are commonly found in urban road construction and exist in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Shenzhen.
In 2020, I often drove in Shanghai, and the restrictions on out-of-town vehicles during elevated road rush hours were very clear: from Monday to Friday, between 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, vehicles with non-local license plates were not allowed on the elevated roads. These time slots targeted the morning and evening rush hours, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion. The policy was strictly enforced in 2020, and out-of-town drivers caught on the elevated roads would be electronically monitored, with fines starting at 200 yuan—quite a loss. I repeatedly reminded my out-of-town friends to avoid the elevated roads during restricted hours, using real-time route planning on Amap or Baidu Maps, or switching to subways and buses. Overall, the policy worked well, reducing congestion somewhat, but drivers of non-local vehicles needed to be careful not to force their way onto the elevated sections. There were no restrictions on holidays and weekends, making travel easier. By the way, I recommend driving during off-peak hours in the morning and evening or considering short-term rentals of Shanghai-plated cars to avoid trouble—safety first.
