When does the Beijing traffic restriction rotation start in October?
4 Answers
Beijing traffic restriction rotation time in October: October 5, 2020 (actual implementation starts on October 9). According to Beijing's regulations on peak-hour traffic restrictions on weekdays, the tail number restrictions will rotate starting from October 5. The restricted tail numbers from Monday to Friday are 4 and 9, 5 and 0, 1 and 6, 2 and 7, and 3 and 8 respectively. Since this period falls within the statutory holiday, the implementation of the restriction measures begins on Friday, October 9, with the restricted tail numbers being 3 and 8 on that day. According to the notice issued by the Municipal Traffic Management Bureau, from October 1 to 8 and October 10, motor vehicles in the city are not subject to the peak-hour traffic restriction measures on weekdays. During this period, non-local passenger vehicles entering Beijing are not subject to the traffic management restrictions prohibiting driving within the Fifth Ring Road (inclusive) from 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, nor to the tail number-based regional traffic restriction measures from 9:00 to 17:00.
The specific date for the annual traffic restriction rotation in Beijing every October really requires attention. Normally, it's set on the first Monday of October. However, 2023 is a bit special because the National Day holiday occupied the first few days of October, with days 1st to 6th being holidays. Although the 7th and 8th were working days due to holiday adjustments, traffic restrictions weren't enforced as per weekend policies, so the rotation was postponed to Monday the 9th. I remember last year it was on October 3rd, but this year it was adjusted due to the holiday schedule. Once this rotation starts, the license plate number restrictions get reshuffled, with restrictions on 1 and 6 on Monday, 2 and 7 on Tuesday, and so on in a cycle. I usually check the Beijing Traffic Police App two weeks in advance; they release an announcement by the end of September. In recent years, the rotation date has often been affected by holidays, so commuting drivers need to be extra cautious.
As a commuter who drives to work every day, I pay special attention to the rotation schedule of traffic restrictions. In Beijing, the rule is to change the tail number restriction order on the first Monday of October each year. However, in 2023, due to the National Day holiday arrangements, the rotation date was moved from October 2nd to the 9th. Starting from that day, the traffic restriction rules changed. For example, the original restriction on Wednesday for numbers 3 and 8 was replaced with a new combination. I recommend setting a reminder on your phone to avoid getting a ticket like I did last year out of confusion. By the end of September, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport will definitely post an announcement on its official website, and you can also see updates on Weibo. Keeping an eye out these days is a sure bet.
The traffic restriction rotation is fixed on the first Monday of October every year. In 2023, the original date was October 2nd, but it was postponed to the 9th due to the National Day holiday. That week marks the reshuffling of the license plate tail number combinations. For example, the previous Monday restriction for plates ending with 5 and 0 will be replaced with a new combination. Drivers should take note of this, as the first week after the rotation is when people most commonly confuse the restricted days. I usually check the text message alerts from the bus company or directly visit the Beijing Traffic official website for announcements.
