Europe is a continent with diverse landscapes, cultures and languages, but also with a multitude of environmental zones and regulations for drivers. Anyone traveling through Europe by car this summer will quickly discover that it is not so easy to keep track of the various environmental stickers and vignettes.
In France, for example, there are five different environmental stickers that are awarded depending on the type of vehicle and emission class. In Germany, on the other hand, there is only one environmental sticker that indicates whether a vehicle meets the environmental standards. Italy, on the other hand, works with permits that allow entry into certain environmental zones.
The idea behind low emission zones is to improve air quality in European cities by keeping polluting vehicles out of city centers. In some cities, there are special requirements and driving license regulations that must be observed. For example, you need a special environmental badge to be allowed to drive into the suburbs of Paris.
The problem here is that the rules and regulations in the various countries and cities are by no means uniform. A driver traveling from Germany to Italy may need a German environmental sticker, a Swiss freeway vignette and a permit for Italian cities. This variety of regulations can quickly become a veritable environmental labyrinth in which it is easy to lose track.
Why is there no standardized European environmental sticker to help drivers find their way around the various environmental zones? This is a question that concerns many travelers who are confronted with the different regulations. A uniform regulation could help not only drivers, but also authorities and cities to improve air quality and keep polluting vehicles out of city centers.
In the meantime, drivers traveling in Europe can use tools such as the green-zones.eu app to find out about the current environmental zones and regulations. The app provides an overview of the various environmental zones in Europe and helps drivers to obtain the correct environmental sticker or permit for their journey.