New low emission zones in September 2022
Also this month, the environmental zone regulations in many cities will become stricter. For example, additional driving bans for some vehicle classes, as well as extensions of the affected areas, tighten the corresponding entry rules. Green-Zones® summarises the latest developments from France and the Netherlands.
France:
A total of 35 environmental zones have been established in France as of date. However, new zones or stricter rules are added almost every month. Stricter rules were launched earlier this month by the cities of Lyon, Rouen, Marseille and Toulouse.
Lyon
In Lyon's permanent low emission zone, light commercial vehicles and trucks are banned from entering for stickers 5, 4 and 3. From 1 September 2022, cars and all motorised two-wheelers will also be banned from entering if they do not have a sticker or only have sticker 5. From 2024, a gradual ban will affect additional categories. Gradually, access will also be prohibited with stickers 4, 3 and 2.
Rouen
A permanent driving ban has so far been in place in the Rouen low emission zone for light commercial vehicles and trucks without stickers or with stickers 5 and 4. This is now being extended and will apply to all vehicle categories from 1 September. In addition, the environmental zone will become larger, with the municipality of Saint-Léger-du-Bourg-Denis joining the zone in the east of the metropolis.
Marseille
Marseille already has a temporary low emission zone, which was activated more often this summer due to increased ozone pollution. A permanent "zone à faible emissions" is now being added. From 1 September 2022, only vehicles with at least a 4 sticker will be allowed to drive in Marseille. Driving around in the low emission zone without a sticker or with sticker 5 will no longer be permitted from this date.
Toulouse
In Toulouse, access to the city's low emission zone will be banned from 1 September for light commercial vehicles and lorries with a 4 sticker. Further tightening is planned for the coming year. Because from January 2023, all motorised vehicles with sticker 4 will be denied entry.
Netherlands:
Here, the changes regarding the Dutch low emission zones will affect the city of Groningen this month. The area affected will be larger. No longer will the zone only cover a small part of the city centre and a few streets. With the extension this September, the environmental zone will extend to the entire city centre within the Ring Canal (Diepenring). Even the areas of Westerhaven and Sledemennersbuurt - located to the west outside the canal - have now become part of Groningen's environmental zone.
Anyone planning to travel in France or the Netherlands in the future should not overlook the new low emission zone regulations. Of course, you can also find all the new low emission zones with the rules in the Green-Zones app.