China to solicit public opinion over road space rationing: draft law

Local Chinese governments may impose driving restrictions to counter air pollution but must first solicit public opinion, a draft amendment to the air pollution control law reads.

The draft amendment -- tabled for a second reading Wednesday to China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee -- said provincial-level governments could decide on the limits of driving restrictions as well as the types of vehicle subject to such limitations, taking into account local air pollution and vehicle emissions.

They must first solicit opinion from the public, experts and trade associations.

One year after the world's second-largest economy "declared war" on pollution following decades of pursing growth at the expense of air, water and soil quality, air pollution has become one of the top concerns of Chinese citizens, particularly those living in big, industrial cities in central and eastern parts of the country.

Some are seeing vehicle emissions as a key contributor to poor air quality in megacities.

In many cities including the capital Beijing, road space rationing policies are already in place to limit the number of cars traveling on the road, based on the last digits of license plates.

Beijing even pulled half its cars off the road during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings last year, allowing even-numbered license plate owners to drive on some days and odd-number drivers to drive on others. Endi