Paris becomes a 30 km/h speed zone
In all 20 arrondissements within the city motorway, the speed will be reduced in the new year. This is to improve air quality, but also to reduce noise pollution and traffic accidents.
In cities like Nantes, Lille and Grenoble, speed 30 zones were already introduced in August. In the new year, traffic in the capital will also be slowed down. A population survey on the measure conducted in autumn has not yet been evaluated, but the change is to be introduced soon. Then the entire city centre within the Péripherique ring road will be calmed down to 30 km/h. The ring road itself will be excluded from the changes. The ring itself is excluded from the changes. The aim is to improve air quality, but also to reduce noise pollution. In addition, traffic accidents are to be avoided and more people are to be encouraged to use public transport. The General Commission for Sustainable Development (CGDD) states in a report on speed reduction that up to 20% of road users could switch to public transport as a result of the measure. The impetus for the speed reduction came from the Citizens' Convention for Climate (Convention citoyenne pour le climat), which wants to see a 30 km/h speed limit in all French cities.
The changes are part of a major package of innovations on French roads. For example, as previously reported, new permanent low emission zones will be introduced in Marseille, Toulouse and Rouen and four other major cities in 2021. A new air pollution index will also lead to the increased activation of temporary low emission zones. The first eco-lanes for electric cars and carpooling have already been introduced in some cities. The reason for the many measures is probably not least the ruling of the European Court of Justice that sentenced France to a heavy fine for excessive air pollution.
In Germany, on the other hand, there are only isolated changes in the new year. In Ludwigsburg, for example, the speed limit in the city centre is to be reduced to 40 km/h. In Düsseldorf, previous air protection measures, namely the eco-lanes, will be lifted again. The diesel driving ban in Hamburg is also about to come to an end. Although air quality in Germany improved last year, especially with regard to nitrogen oxide pollution, this could also be related to the reduced traffic volume due to the Corona pandemic. If the trend does not continue in the new year, Germany could also face stricter rules such as diesel driving bans or more speed reductions.
All changes and low emission zones can be found in our Green-Zones app.