Last year's air quality values are causing confusion in Germany. While some cities want to stick to driving bans because the data is not reliable due to the Corona pandemic, other cities are seizing the opportunity and abolishing driving bans and environmental zones. You do not attribute the success to the pandemic, but to the mobility concepts of the cities. Is this too hasty?
The driving bans in the British capital will be extended from this week. Almost all types of vehicles are affected by the diesel bans. Violations can be expensive.
The "Deutsche Umwelthilfe" continues to build up pressure on the city. Nitrogen oxide levels are too high in some places despite existing diesel driving bans. They demand that exemptions, especially for vans, be stopped.
Saharan dust caused particulate matter levels in Europe to skyrocket this week. In Switzerland, the speed limit on motorways was tightened. In France, the activation of the environmental zones was mostly too late. In some areas, they were dispensed with altogether despite the pollution.
Berlin's urban area is to be closed to internal combustion vehicles. But after the draft law already stated 2030 as the implementation date, this deadline has now disappeared from the law. Implementation has thus been put on the back burner. But to when?
Motorbikes are clearly too loud - that's what measurements in Stuttgart showed. Politicians and citizens are calling for an end to this. Noise protection zones like the one in Tyrol could be a solution.
Berlin citizens have submitted a draft law that would virtually ban car traffic within Berlin's S-Bahn ring. According to the bill, not even electric cars would be allowed to enter. The initiative is likely to face a lot of opposition.
The Netherlands is tightening up the rules on environmental zones enormously from 2025. No vans or trucks with combustion engines will be allowed in at least 14 environmental zones. Only purely electric vehicles will be allowed.
Despite attractive offers such as free public transport, the country is struggling with increased nitrogen oxide pollution from old diesel vehicles. Driving bans are imminent.
The air in Germany is getting cleaner. This is also the case in Darmstadt. Despite the improvement in nitrogen oxide levels, however, the city is sticking to its driving bans for older diesel and petrol vehicles.
