More than 250,000 drivers in Beijing have promised to leave their cars at home for at least one day during the China-Africa forum to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality.

The drivers are from 476 organizations, including 380 drivers' clubs and 28 private and overseas-funded businesses, said Wang Xiaoming, of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.

A random sample survey released by the Beijing Social Psychology Institute on Tuesday shows more than 80 percent of drivers in the city's eight urban districts have heard of the "no car day" campaign, and 42.3 percent voiced "strong support," hoping it would improve traffic and air conditions.

The survey also shows half of the drivers who promised to leave their cars at home will choose buses or subways to travel during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation from yesterday through Sunday, which will attract 40 African state leaders.

To ensure smooth traffic for the forum, Beijing will restrict use of vehicles belonging to government departments and state-owned enterprises, and shorten school hours to ease traffic congestion, the Beijing Transportation Committee has said.

Half of Beijing's army and central government vehicles and 80 percent of Beijing municipal government department cars will be banned from city roads during the forum, the committee said.

The plan is understood to be a practical rehearsal for traffic arrangements during the 2008 Olympics.

Meanwhile, Beijing will increase bus and subway train services to ease traffic congestion in the period, the committee said.

A city with a population of about 16 million, Beijing now has 500,000 company cars and two million private vehicles.

The "no car day" campaign urges drivers to leave their cars at home at least one day each month.

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