What time can you drive on the restricted day?
2 Answers
On the restricted day, you can drive before 7:00 AM and after 8:00 PM. Violating the regulations will result in penalties. The following vehicles are exempt from the restrictions: 1. Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and engineering rescue vehicles; 2. Vehicles with tourist bus operation certificates issued by the municipal transportation management department, as well as unit shuttle buses and school buses approved by the municipal public security traffic management department; 3. Administrative law enforcement vehicles and special obstacle removal vehicles on duty; 4. Special operation vehicles for sanitation, landscaping, and road maintenance, as well as funeral vehicles from funeral parlors; 5. Vehicles with diplomatic license plates and temporarily approved entry vehicles.
On the day of the traffic restriction, the driving hours depend on the city's regulations. Generally, during weekdays, the restricted period is from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM when driving is not allowed, and after 8:00 PM, you can drive freely. I often drive out, especially in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where these rules are mostly the same, aimed at easing peak-hour congestion and air pollution. In practice, I recommend downloading a local traffic app, such as Gaode or Baidu Maps, and setting up restriction alerts to avoid getting fined for driving during restricted hours. Driving at night is much more comfortable and safer, as the streets are emptier. If you're unsure, you can call the local traffic service hotline to confirm the specific times, as policies may be adjusted slightly. Holidays and weekends usually don’t have restrictions. Paying attention to these details in daily life makes driving more hassle-free.
