As of early July, passenger volume on China's roads had surged 70 percent compared to May, which saw the lowest passenger volume due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said resources with the Ministry of Communications here Thursday.

Currently, daily passenger volume stands at 70 percent of the total for the same period last year,while cargo transportation volume is at 90 percent,said the ministry.

The outbreak of SARS in China this past spring has had a strong impact on road transportation. Statistics showed road passenger volume reduced by 50 percent in May, compared with the same period of last year.

In north China, those traveling by road in May represented only ten percent of last year's figure,especially in Beijing, where it dropped to only one percent.

According to the ministry, cargo road transportation in May also dropped by 25 percent from the same period last year.

To help the transportation industry resume normal operation, the Chinese government, both at the central and local level, has issued policies for the industry.

Local road transportation sectors are also doing their best to recover transportation lines that were suspended or cut off during the SARS epidemic and is also promoting better service for passengers.

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