Being stuck in traffic is a major problem regardless of where you live, but in the Philippines it used to be a nightmare. That’s when officials came up with a radical way to ease the congestion. Now license plates issued in the Philippines are subject to a coding system that prohibits drivers from using their vehicles on specific days. Owners whose license plates end in the numbers 1 or 2 are not allowed to drive on Mondays, plates ending in 3 or 4 are prohibited on Tuesdays, plates ending in 5 or 6 on Wednesdays, plates ending in 7 or 8 on Thursdays, and plates ending in 9 or 0 on Fridays. Of course, these rules only apply to privately owned cars, while exempting buses, motorcycles, ambulances and government vehicles. Depending on the city, this rule applies from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. during weekdays, with drivers eligible to drive at any time on the weekends. Drivers caught violating the rule can face fines of between $8 and $20, depending on the severity of the offense. Some low-emission vehicles like electric and conventional hybrid cars are exempt from the number plate coding scheme, provided owners have the appropriate certification.
