BEIJING, June 6 -- Each year around college entrance exam time - this year exams run from tomorrow through Friday - many parents stand in the middle of streets outside school exam sites to restrict traffic and reduce noise, Shanghai Daily reported June 6.

"The exam is so vital to my daughter's future that no single disturbance could be forgiven," said Liu Ying, a local mother.

And many schools are sympathetic to their concerns.

Several local high schools are seeking to have the traffic nearby their campuses blocked during the upcoming exams to prevent traffic noise from disturbing students.

The schools' applications, however, have triggered controversy among locals who oppose teachers' and parents' over-sensitivity. And traffic police say they don't plan any changes.

Shanghai Guangming High School, one of the exam sites in downtown Huangpu District, applied to local traffic police for blocking its neighboring Huaihai Road E.-- from Renmin Road to Xizang Road S.-- during the English listening comprehension test period from 3pm to 3:20pm on Thursday.

The school asked buses and other vehicles to neighboring minor roads during the exam period.

"As our classrooms are adjacent to busy main streets, traffic noise by passing vehicles is sure to disturb students," said Zhu Yingyi, Guangming's vice headmaster.

Located on the west side of the famous tourism spot Yuyuan Garden, Guangming has more than 10 bus lines running on the Huaihai Road E. and Xizang Road S. in front of its school gate.

Every year, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau teams up with traffic police to enforce a quiet zone around exam sites during the exam period.

Starting last week, construction work was also banned from 10pm to 6am to reduce noise for students preparing for the exam and high school entrance exams.

Local traffic police said yesterday no special traffic blocking will be allowed. That would only add to the city's traffic pressure, officials said.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)