What does Guangzhou's 'Four Days On, Four Days Off' policy mean?
2 Answers
Non-Guangzhou registered medium and small passenger vehicles, including temporary license plate vehicles, entering the restricted zones of Guangzhou, are allowed to drive continuously for a maximum of 4 days. To re-enter, they must wait for at least 4 days. Vehicles with out-of-town license plates can drive continuously for up to 4 days, but must observe a 4-day break after even just 1 day of driving before being allowed to drive again. Below is more related information: 1. Violations of the 'Four Days On, Four Days Off' policy will be penalized: On permissible driving days, vehicles can enter the restricted zones an unlimited number of times. After the driving calculation cycle ends, the vehicle must enter a non-driving calculation cycle, during which it is prohibited from driving within the controlled area for 4 consecutive days. If the vehicle re-enters before the 4-day period is over, each violation will result in a fine of 200 RMB and 3 penalty points. 2. Why the 'Four Days On, Four Days Off' policy is implemented: This policy primarily targets sections in Guangzhou's central urban area with high traffic intensity from non-local vehicles, aiming to reduce the impact of these vehicles on local traffic. The controlled area should form a network, preventing vehicles from entering through alternative routes, which could undermine control effectiveness. There should be conversion nodes and alternative paths around the controlled area to ensure that controlled vehicles can still travel via converted routes. The controlled area should have well-developed public transportation to facilitate the movement of affected individuals via public transit into the controlled area.
Having lived in Guangzhou for a long time, I've fully grasped the 'drive four days, rest four days' rule. Simply put, vehicles with non-local license plates entering the central urban areas can only drive continuously for a maximum of four weekdays, then must stay off the road for four days without entering, otherwise they'll be caught by electronic surveillance and fined 200 yuan with 3 penalty points. The restricted hours are usually during morning and evening peak times from 7 to 9 AM and 5 to 8 PM, covering core areas like Tianhe and Yuexiu. As someone who drives to work daily, I feel this policy has genuinely made main roads less congested, significantly improving peak-hour traffic speeds. To avoid violations, my friends and I routinely use the government-recommended app to check remaining driving days, planning ahead to switch to metro or shared bikes when needed. This minor inconvenience is worth it for cleaner air, especially since idling in traffic with AC on emits more exhaust. When family visits from out of town, I always remind them not to exceed the driving days in restricted zones. Overall, while somewhat restrictive, these measures make the city more livable and safer for everyone.
