More paid leave could end holiday jams

EVERY YEAR, AT THE END OF EVERY WEEKLONG VACATION, with tens of thousands of cars rushing in the same direction, traffic jams are almost certain to happen as people head back to the cities. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

On Sunday, the day before the last of the National Day holiday, there was a 10-kilometer traffic jam on the highway linking Beijing and Guangzhou. In order to avoid being trapped in such heavy traffic on their way home, many people now choose to come back one or two days before the end of the national holidays. However, that does not help much as highways quickly become overcrowded on these days too.

The transport authorities do what they can to ease the pressure on the roads. When other people are enjoying their travels on their days off, it is the busiest time for traffic police and railway staff nationwide and they often have to work extra hours during the holidays.