Authority predicts record holiday road traffic

BEIJING - Number of travelers on road during the upcoming National Day holiday may very likely hit a record high of 630 million, China's traffic authority said on Friday.

Between Oct. 1 and 7, the daily average travelers on the road may reach 90 million, up by 5 percent from the same period last year, according to a circular issued by the traffic bureau under the Ministry of Public Security.

The number of vehicles in China has increased by 18 million on a year-on-year basis and the highway's toll-free policy during holidays is also expected to fuel the traffic pressure, the circular said.

The bureau predicts that road traffic during the holiday week may be 50 percent more compared to its previous week, and in some sections the number may even triple.

To deal with the situation, the bureau told local traffic agencies to intensify traffic directing and management and formulate response plans for possible emergencies.

The circular also called on drivers to avoid overspeed and overload and not to drive after drinking or in fatigue.