Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Prague 1 - Czechia
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-04-1999
Type of environmental zone: Permanent, from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm for trucks only, 24 hours for buses
Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable
Not allowed to drive (permanently):
Vehicle class: truck (N2, N3), bus (M2, M3)
Total weight: > 3.5 t
EURO standard: 0-3
Badge/registration/authorisation: EURO 4-6 entry only with registration. See Special features.
Fines: 60 - 100 €
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The zone covers the whole area of the administrative district of Prague 1. The district is situated in the historical city centre, on both side of the Vltava.
Special features:
Retrofitting permitted : yes (particulate matter)
Entry is only with a separate registration possible. At least the Euro standard 4 must be fulfilled.
Short-term permit (for 8 days) and long-term permit (for 1 year) Authorisation: The application must include the following information and be submitted in writing : - name or company
- reason for travelling
- journey destination
- date
- vehicle type
- license plate number
Following documents are required:
- a copy of the full vehicle registration document (pages containing the license plate number and the technical data)
- construction vehicles - a copy of the contract, building permit or investor's confirmation
- in case of relocation: a copy of the order form
Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable
Exemptions: Information currently unavailable
Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Prague 2 - Czechia
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-05-2006
Type of environmental zone: Permanent, 24 hours a day
Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable
Not allowed to drive (permanently):
Vehicle class: truck (N2, N3) Total weight: > 6 t EURO standard: 0-3
Badge/registration/authorisation: EURO 4-6 entry only with registration. See Special features.
Fines: 60 - 100 €
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The zone covers almost the entire area of Prague 1 and Prague 2 - it extends between the streets Vodičkova - Lazarská - Myslíkova - Masarykovo nábřeží - Resslova and Karlovo náměstí.)
Special features:
Retrofitting permitted : yes (particulate matter)
Entry is only with a separate registration possible. At least the Euro standard 4 must be fulfilled.
Short-term permit (for 8 days) and long-term permit (for 1 year) Authorisation: The application must include the following information and be submitted in writing : - name or company
- reason for travelling
- journey destination
- date
- vehicle type
- license plate number
Following documents are required:
- a copy of the full vehicle registration document (pages containing the license plate number and the technical data)
- construction vehicles - a copy of the contract, building permit or investor's confirmation
- in case of relocation: a copy of the order form
Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable
Exemptions: Information currently unavailable
An environmental zone is a specific area in a city or region that is protected by regulations and restrictions to improve air quality. These zones are usually established to reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are responsible for poor air quality in many cities.
In these zones, certain rules apply to vehicle access based on vehicle emissions. This may include imposing driving bans on certain types of vehicles, such as older diesel vehicles, or requiring the creation of an eco-label for vehicles. This mark, which must be affixed to the vehicle, confirms that the vehicle complies with the applicable emission regulations and is therefore authorized to drive in the low emission zone.
The introduction of low emission zones has led to a significant improvement in air quality in many cities. It has been observed that emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter have been reduced in these zones, thereby improving the health of residents. The number of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases also decreased.
However, it is not just the introduction of environmental zones alone that can lead to an improvement in air quality. It is necessary to take other measures to reduce emissions overall. These include, for example, promoting electromobility, increasing energy efficiency and creating alternative means of transportation such as bicycles and public transportation.
Environmental zones are an important tool to improve air quality in cities and regions and reduce the impact of air pollution on the health of residents. They are used in many European countries and have shown to have a positive effect on air quality.
Environmental zones are also known in other countries as Environmental Zones, Clean Air Zones (England), Miljøzone (Denmark), Miljözon (Sweden), Lavutslippssone (Norway), Alacsony Kibocsátási Övezet (Hungary), Zona ambientale (Italy), Umweltzonen (Germany), Milieuzones (Netherlands), ZFE - Zone à Faibles Émissions (France) and Lage-emissiezone (Belgium), ZBE - Zona de baixes emissiones (Spain).
Winter zone: There are environmental zones which are only seasonally active or have stricter rules for certain months. This means that these zones are active, for example, from September 15 to April 15 of the following year. Outside of this time, no or less strict driving restrictions apply and you can drive freely. One country with many winter zones is Italy.
All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.
The city of The Hague in the Netherlands has made a far-reaching decision: From January 1, 2025, all advertising for conventional combustion engine cars will be banned. This is intended to promote the switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives and set an example for climate protection.
Emmanuel Cuet, a craftsman from Lyon, is facing major challenges and frustrations. His anger increased when he recently received a fine for non-compliance with the ZFE. This penalty is particularly hard for him, as he already has to deal with many difficulties in his profession. As a carpenter and locksmith at Ateliers Charignon in Couzon-au-Mont-d'Or, he feels unfairly treated and feels that the measures are too quick and insufficient.
BMW Board Member for Production Milan Nedeljkovic recently suggested that electric cars should be given preferential treatment in road traffic in order to boost demand. This idea has attracted both supporters and critics. While some see it as a necessary step towards promoting electromobility, others warn of possible negative effects on traffic and the equal treatment of all road users.
Fireworks are an integral part of many celebrations and are loved by people all over the world. However, a new study from New York has revealed alarming findings about fireworks and particulate pollution that could cast a shadow over the festivities.
Salzburg is about to experience a revolution in public transportation - the introduction of hydrogen buses as part of the ZEMoS project. The Salzburg Transport Association and Salzburg AG are investigating the efficiency of battery-electric and fuel cell-electric technologies in order to find the best solution for emission-free mobility.
The introduction of new low emission zones in the Netherlands is causing discussion and uncertainty among drivers. Next year, 15 new low emission zones will be introduced, but they will initially only apply to commercial vehicles. This means that car drivers do not have to fear any restrictions when entering these zones.
Particulate matter pollution in London has fallen by 22 percent since the introduction of the controversial low emission zone. The measures to improve air quality have led to a significant reduction in pollutant emissions. People are breathing cleaner air and there are fewer polluting vehicles on the roads.
A new legal opinion describes the planned ban on combustion engines in the EU from 2035 as unlawful. Professor Martin Kment from the University of Augsburg argues that the CO2 fleet regulation, which regulates CO2 emissions in the EU, violates EU law. This could mean that the EU's plans to introduce all-electric vehicles in the future could be put on hold.
Paris is a veritable jungle of low emission zones. With the introduction of the new traffic-calmed zone (ZTL) in the heart of the capital in October 2024, the list of restrictions for motorists will become even longer. There are already ZFE, ZPA and ZPA-Transit, which are intended to regulate traffic in the city. But who will be able to see through them?
Europe is a continent with diverse landscapes, cultures and languages, but also with a multitude of environmental zones and regulations for drivers. Anyone traveling through Europe by car this summer will quickly discover that it is not so easy to keep track of the various environmental stickers and vignettes.
