Abstract: The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has clearly put forward the goal of enhancing the system of ecological civilization and concurrently advancing carbon reduction, pollution mitigation, green development, and sustainable growth. This initiative calls for the promotion of green, low-carbon production practices alongside fostering the adoption of low-carbon living patterns. This paper focuses on the implementation of vehicle driving restrictions across different cities, employing a multi-time-point difference-in-differences approach to assess these policies' additional impact on carbon emission reductions, beyond their effects on traffic congestion and air quality improvement. Our findings indicate that such driving restrictions effectively lower overall carbon emissions by curtailing the number of vehicles used for daily commutes, dampening the public's inclination to rely on private cars, and steering them toward more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. It is noteworthy that regional economic traits, industrial composition, traffic conditions, financial frameworks, and urban layouts display varying degrees of diversity. Consequently, to bolster local mechanisms for green and low-carbon development, it is imperative to not only enforce “command-and-control” measures but also harmonize the interplay between production, lifestyle, and environmental conservation. Enhancing the public transit and road infrastructure systems and endorsing green, low-carbon travel options among the populace are critical actions towards this end.

Key words: traffic restriction policy, carbon emissions, low-carbon travel, transportation commuting