Plan to reduce pollution levels saw some 800,000 fewer vehicles on Beijing roads the first day the law took effect.

The city of Beijing has implemented a new law requiring 70 percent of government cars and all corporate and privately owned cars to stay off the roads at least one weekday out of five.

Traffic was lightened by an estimated 800,000 cars when the law took effect Oct. 13.

The cars take turns staying off the roads based on a schedule determined by the final numbers of their license plates. Cars with license plates ending in 1 or 6 cannot be driven on Mondays; those ending in 2 or 7 cannot be driven on Tuesdays; 3 or 8 on Wednesdays; 4 or 9 on Thursdays; and 5 or 0 on Fridays. continue>>