Ever-rising car sales leads to Beijing’s concern about pollution levels during the Olympics, reports the Shanghai Daily:
The total number of motor vehicles in Beijing will reach 3.35 million in August – when the Olympics will be staged – according to sources with the municipal government. By Tuesday, the city had a total of 3.23 million vehicles.
Officials are drafting plans to lessen pollution by banning vehicles from operating during the Games, according to the state-run paper, a move tested last year and supposedly reduced emissions by 40%.
Automobiles, excluding taxis, buses and emergency vehicles, would have to stay off the roads every other day in accordance with even or odd numbered license plates. Half of all government vehicles in the city would also be off the road at any one time, although it is not known how many vehicles would be affected.
