Of the many rules and regulations introduced by the Beijing government to ease the city's traffic problems, one of the simplest seems to be having the most effect: allowing car drivers to handle their own minor bumps.

Wang Li, deputy director of the city's traffic management bureau, said at a news briefing yesterday, that since the implementation last July of a rapid handling procedure for minor road accidents, the number of traffic jams in the city caused by them has fallen by 60 percent.

Under the procedure, in the event of a minor collision drivers are required to move their cars from the middle of the road, and then wait for traffic police to arrive or reach an agreement on compensation between themselves.

About 75 percent of drivers now follow the practice, up from just 30 percent a year ago, Wang said.

The bureau will continue to promote the procedure in the city, especially during the Olympics, she said.

A notice issued by the bureau at the weekend, said that from Tuesday until Oct 16, drivers who cause traffic jams as a result of failing to follow the procedure will be fined 200 yuan ($29).

Also yesterday, Liu Yuelin, assistant director of the city's insurance regulatory bureau, promised better services for drivers making traffic accident claims.

Since last July, insurance companies have paid out on more than 500,000 claims involving accidents dealt with using the rapid handling procedure. Over the year, the average processing time for such claims has dropped from 46 days to 22 days, he said.

"In the future, we will further reduce the processing time and also extend insurance companies' business hours," Liu said.

Meanwhile, the Beijing transportation management bureau yesterday said it will pay the city's taxi drivers a monthly subsidy of 525 yuan to help them cope with the rising cost of fuel.