Attention motorists: France tightens environmental zones
Residents and tourists, bus and lorry drivers beware! Since the beginning of the year, the rules in the environmental zones in several French cities have been tightened. In this way, the government is attempting to further reduce air pollution and pursue its roadmap towards green mobility.
France is further tightening the screws when it comes to low emission zones and is tightening the rules for some zones.
In Lyon, cars and motorbikes with a 4 sticker will no longer be allowed to enter the zone from January. Originally, the zone was also to be extended, but this was cancelled. It remains to be seen whether the extension will be introduced at a later date this year.
Cars and motorbikes with a 4 sticker are no longer allowed to drive in Montpellier, while lorries and coaches with a 3 sticker are excluded. In Nice, lorries and coaches with a 3 sticker and cars and vans with a 4 sticker will also be banned from January. In Strasbourg, all vehicles will be banned from driving with sticker 3. This is where the most stringent changes are being introduced. For example, sticker 3 will be issued to diesel cars with Euro standard 4.
With these stricter measures, the French government aims to improve air quality and further reduce the health risks posed by traffic and the associated air pollution caused by particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Large French cities continue to struggle with high levels of air pollution. Particularly in winter and summer, smog is a recurring problem caused by certain weather conditions in combination with exhaust fumes from traffic and industry. This is also when the temporary French zones are often activated.
The French government is also taking a further step towards a ban on combustion engines and climate neutrality with these changes, as older diesel and petrol vehicles are being banned from cities and citizens are being encouraged to switch to low-emission vehicles.
However, the stricter regulations also have a number of disadvantages. One of these is that low emission zones can be particularly problematic for people on low incomes. They are often unable to afford a new, more environmentally friendly vehicle and are therefore forced to switch to public transport or travel longer distances on foot or by bike. This can lead to social inequality and restrict the mobility of these groups of people. In Grenoble, for example, where new regulations are looming in September 2024, areas outside the city centre, where the majority of people on low incomes live, will also be affected. These areas are usually difficult to reach by public transport. The government must support these people in order to equalise social inequality.
The regulations can also be problematic for logistics companies and suppliers with vans. Some of these vehicles could be excluded from entering the environmental zones.
The new regulations in France were planned and announced well in advance so that citizens and companies could prepare for them. Nevertheless, some people could be hit hard by the stricter regulations.
Of course, tourists are also affected by the new regulations. So if you are planning a trip to France, why not take a look at the Green Zones website or download our free app to keep up to date with all the driving bans and rules of the environmental zones.