A traffic policeman directs vehicles on an expressway in Linyi, East China's Shandong province, Sept 30, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Police across China have been mobilized to cope with huge traffic flows along expressways during the eight-day national holiday, said the Ministry of Public Security here Monday.

Traffic along main expressways increased by more than 40 percent on Sunday, the first day of the holiday period, said a statement on the ministry website.

Police have opened 743 service stations along interprovincial expressways and established up to 14,000 temporary service booths to help control traffic, the statement said.

In addition, more than 16,000 wreckers and ambulances have been put on standby for emergencies and accidents along busy sections, the statement said.

The number of travelers taking to China's highways totaled 85 million by 4 pm on Sunday, 13.3 percent more than the equivalent period last year, according to the Ministry of Transport.

The surge was partially due to a new government policy that has made most expressways in the country toll free during the holiday period for passenger cars with fewer than seven seats.

Authorities predict that around 740 million trips will be made by Chinese people during the holiday, with around 660 million trips to be made on roads and waters, averaging 82.5 million trips daily, up 8.8 percent year on year.

The ministry called in the statement for safe driving and urged drivers to stay away from hard shoulders on expressways during congestions so emergency vehicles can pass.