Upcoming driving bans in Europe
France
Toulouse: After a long back and forth and months of postponement, the time has finally come: In Toulouse, the permanent environmental zone will come into force on 1 March. From then on, vans and trucks without a sticker or with sticker 5 will no longer be allowed to drive in the city centre. Six months later, in September 2022, the first tightening will take place: Vehicles with sticker class 4 will no longer be allowed to enter the city centre.
Montpellier: From 1 July 2022, a permanent environmental zone will also come into force for Montpellier and ten surrounding municipalities. Trucks, vans and motorbikes without a sticker and with sticker 5 will be banned. Cars with sticker 5 will still be allowed to enter for one year.
Marseille: In the city on the Mediterranean Sea, an environmental zone is to be introduced at the beginning of September this year. Those who do not have a sticker or only have sticker 5 will no longer be allowed to enter the city centre. The Prado-Carénage tunnel and the Boulevard Ferdinand de Lesseps, both of which provide access to the port, are exempt from the ban.
Saint-Etienne: The permanent low emission zone has been in force since the end of January, but only for vans and trucks used exclusively for commercial purposes. Motorbikes and vehicles belonging to private individuals have free passage.
Nice: Nice has also had a permanent low emission zone since the end of January 2022. Buses and trucks heavier than 3.5 tonnes have no access if they drive without a sticker or with sticker 5. This applies to the city centre, but also to the long coastal road Boulevard des Anglais and Boulevard des États-Unis.
Strasbourg: The permanent environmental zone has been considerably larger since January and now encompasses the entire conurbation, the so-called Eurometropolis. The scope corresponds to the area that is also affected by driving restrictions during temporary environmental warnings. Rules now apply to all vehicles, not just vans and trucks. Entry is prohibited without a French environmental sticker and with sticker 5. But there is a grace period: fines will not be due until next year.
Germany
Limburg: In the Hessian town of Limburg an der Lahn, it was decided to no longer apply the driving ban for diesel vehicles. From 1 April, the ban will be lifted again due to improved pollution levels.
Frankfurt/M.: In Frankfurt am Main, the planned diesel driving bans will not be introduced. Here, too, it is due to the air values, which have improved for the second year in a row. The level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is now below the Germany-wide limit of 40 micrograms as an annual average.
Belgium
Brussels: The European capital has also banned Euroclass 4 vehicles from its Low Emission Zone as of 1 January 2022. But drivers will not have to pay a fine until 1 April 2022 so that they can get used to the new rule.
Car-free city centres:
As on every 1st Sunday of the month, all vehicles with motors will again be banned from the first four arrondissements in Paris from 10 am to 6 pm. Only taxis and cars belonging to care workers are allowed to drive at 20 Km/h.
In Bordeaux, too, the city centre will be car-free as on every 1st Sunday of the month. From March to October, even one hour longer, from 10 am to 7 pm.
On 11 March 2022, cars will also be banned from the city centre in Mannheim, for the time being only on a trial basis. In the so-called Fressgasse (the streets with the addresses F and P), a 140-metre pedestrian zone is to be opened. Later in April, Marktstrasse is to be converted into a bicycle street. The work until completion will drag on until 6 May.