Second license lottery draws crowd

Drivers' chances narrowed by unexpected competition

BEIJING -An unexpectedly large number of drivers have applied to enter a lottery drawing that will be used this month to distribute license plates for new vehicles, making each participant's chances of winning dimmer.

The Beijing municipal commission of transport said the total number of applicants for the second license-plate lottery to be held in the city came to 306,865 during February's eight-day application period, which ended at midnight on Tuesday.