Blog & News

Category: France

Permanent Low Emission Zones in France explained

The French system for preventing urban and regional pollution is very comprehensive. France tries to curb air pollution with the help of six stickers called Certificat qualité de l'Air. The stickers categorise the different vehicles according to their pollutant emissions. Older vehicles that produce a lot of exhaust fumes get the worst class 5, or if they are even older, no sticker at all. In the meantime, you need such a sticker in many cities, as otherwise you will no longer have access and will have to pay high fines if you enter anyway.


Noise protection zones are booming

In addition to air pollution in our cities, noise pollution is also increasingly coming into focus. Austria, Switzerland and France are leading the way. In Austria's Außerfern/Tyrol, loud motorbikes were already banned last year on particularly popular routes in the Tannheimertal, Hahntennjoch and Lechtal valleys. Anyone emitting more than 95 decibels has to pay a 220 € fine.


Environmental zones: Double trouble for border crossers

Different stickers for different countries - in the border region between France and Germany this is currently particularly annoying. From the beginning of next year, Strasbourg will introduce a permanent low emission zone in which at least the French category 4 sticker will be required. German commuters will also have to prepare themselves for this.


30 km/h speed limit throughout Paris

The mayor of Paris has been declaring war on cars for some time now. The environmental zone is becoming stricter and stricter and will soon prohibit even the newest diesel vehicles from entering. In addition, more and more car-free zones are being created and the expansion of cycle paths and footpaths is taking more and more space away from vehicles. Now almost all of Paris is to become a 30 km/h zone.