Munich: New diesel driving bans from 2023

In addition to numerous efforts to improve and optimise the city's public transport services and infrastructure for cycling and walking, Munich is now also getting serious about driving bans for polluting vehicles. On Thursday, Munich's mayor Katrin Habenschaden (Greens) and the city's climate and environmental protection officer Christine Kugler presented a clear catalogue of measures. This was developed in cooperation with the German Ecological Transport Club (VCD) and the German Environmental Aid (DUH), as a sign of an effective and climate-friendly compromise between the city administration and the two environmental and consumer protection organisations.  

Since the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) values that have been in force since 2010 have not been complied with and the EU limit values for NO2 pollution are still being exceeded at several measuring points in the state capital. Some time ago, VCD and DUH had initiated legal proceedings against the Free State of Bavaria because of the poor air quality in Munich. "We would have liked to spare the motorists the bans" explains the mayor, aware that at least part of the population will not immediately accept the new measures peacefully. "However, protecting the health of citizens is our greatest duty and without this compromise, the courts would probably have imposed driving bans immediately." Likewise, Munich thus avoids EU fines - which would have threatened up to one million euros per day had the city not acted now. 

In concrete terms, the package of measures will be introduced in a step-by-step process starting in February next year. The already active low emission zone will be extended to the Mittlerer Ring on 1 February and stricter regulations will regulate entry. No longer will only diesel Euro3 cars be excluded. From then on, all vehicles with diesel engines in the emission classes Euro 1 to 4 will no longer be allowed to enter the streets within and the Mittlerer Ring itself. If the nitrogen dioxide levels do not reduce in the first few months since the ban was implemented, Munich is planning further tightening from October 2023, which will then also affect diesel vehicles of pollutant class Euro 5. As is often the case, exceptions also apply here. For example, residents, suppliers and business operators will be spared from the driving ban during the first phase. From 1 April 2024, however, they will also have to be subject to the new diesel rules - or submit an individual application for permission to drive in the low emission zone. If, on the other hand, drivers are caught violating the rules during routine checks carried out by the police, they will be fined approximately 100 euros. 

It was high time for the city to tackle the problem of air pollution directly and to find a solution that could be effective in the short and medium term. That this should be a diesel driving ban was the balanced conclusion of the authorities. This is because all expert studies on a total of 15 packages of measures showed that compliance with the limit values could only be achieved through comprehensive diesel driving bans. Thus, the city will avoid that the unlawful air quality conditions would have been prolonged for years - as well as escaping the corresponding legal proceedings from the EU and the complaining associations. 

More importantly, Munich - one of the German cities suffering most from the air pollution phenomenon - will thus get a real chance to reduce harmful traffic emissions and get back on the road to cleaner mobility. Then once again, low emission zones, and the traffic exclusion of polluting vehicles, will be able to prove themselves as the best choice for citizens' health and the environment. The final decision from the city council will be presented by the end of the month.