Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Drôme/Valence ZPAd - France
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 27-11-2017
Type of environmental zone: Regional zone of air protection ZPAd, depending on weather conditions and activated after an early warning stage, if the pollutant values exceed, for example, > 50 µg/m³ for particulate matter and following the prefect’s decision.
Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Vehicles without a Crit’Air badge and vehicles with insufficient Crit’Air badge class, depending on the level and duration of the air pollution peak. Crit’Air categories 4 and 5 can be excluded from traffic.
Not allowed to drive (permanently): Information currently unavailable
Fines: 68-450 €
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The ZPAd zone covers theoretically the entire Department of Drôme. In case of pollution peak, a press release issued by the prefect will define the exact borders of the activated zone and announce the entry into force of the area. Possible affected highway in the department is the A7.
Special features: Depending on the type, duration and level of air pollution, the borders of one or several zones within the department change. The prefect can decide to ban several Crit’Air badge classes from traffic.
Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable
Exemptions: Information currently unavailable
Environmental zone ZPAd
Do I need stickers or registrations?
If there is a peak in air pollution and the ZPAd zone is activated, each affected vehicle requires a valid French environmental sticker (Certificat qualité de l'Air) to enter the low emission zone. Otherwise, a fine of between 68 euros and 375 euros is to be expected.
You can find out whether a ZPAd zone is active and which vignette is affected by the driving ban in our Green-Zones App.
What is a ZPAd zone?
ZPAd ("zone de protection de l'air départementale") are air protection zones that apply to an entire department. It is not possible to define in advance in which local areas within the ZPAd traffic restrictions will occur due to a peak in air pollution. In the event of a peak in air pollution, the respective initial decree provides for specific traffic restrictions, so that only then is the area within the department determined in a specific police decree, in which specific measures are then taken. In theory, even an entire department could be affected by a concrete measure, but this is relatively unlikely.
In any case, the prefect of the department is responsible for imposing driving bans where necessary (e.g. in one or more communes, on a motorway or within the entire department), based on data supplied to him by the regional air protection institute. The Certificat qualité de l'Air Vignette, which must be excluded from traffic, is also decided in these cases.
How do I recognize the low emission zone?
ZPAd zones are only activated temporarily. The size and dimensions of the zone are completely individual. This is determined by the respective prefect, depending on the intensity of air pollution. Therefore there are no special signs for ZPAd zones.
The situation is different for the ZFE zones. There, the beginning and the end of the environmental zones are marked with signs. This shows a red circle as prohibition sign with the remark "Zones à Circulation Restreinte" (Restricted Zone). Who exactly is allowed to enter or not is not indicated by the entry sign.
In our Green Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily see the boundaries and avoid penalties.
Are there other low emission zones in France?
Yes, a lot of them. France has over 30 different environmental zones. These differ in ZFE (permanent), ZPA (temporary) and ZPAd (temporary département) zones.
In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.
Good to know...
All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.
Madrid loses environmental zone
The permanently valid Madrid Central environmental zone is cancelled due to formal deficiencies. The zone had reduced air pollution by 22%. The city is now threatened with a fine from Brussels if it cannot reduce air pollution otherwise.
End of the environmental zones?
The environmental zone in Erfurt is history. After the particulate matter levels have been significantly improved in recent years, the Higher Administrative Court has now upheld the complaint of an Erfurt taxi driver. A victory at the expense of health.
End of the environmental zones?
The environmental zone in Erfurt is history. After the particulate matter levels have been significantly improved in recent years, the Higher Administrative Court has now upheld the complaint of an Erfurt taxi driver. A victory at the expense of health.
What is an environmental zone?
An environmental zone is an area in which only certain vehicles are allowed. If your vehicle does not meet the conditions of the zone, you are not allowed to enter. Environmental zones are primarily designed to regulate the exhaust gases emitted by cars and thus improve air quality. Therefore, the rules of an environmental zone are often linked to vehicle emissions.
Car ban for the climate?
The Constitutional Court has ruled that the federal government is not doing enough to protect the climate. According to the ruling, personal freedom is less important than the fight against global warming. Driving a car could also be drastically restricted.
The new era of air pollution
Zero-emission vehicles on the road, powered by electric, hydrogen and solar - this is the future. We also associate this with the idea of clean air, quiet vehicles and healthy and green cities. But with futuristic mobility comes a new era of air pollution. And it is still completely unregulated.
Despite environmental zones: Shipping and air traffic barely curbed
Air and sea traffic in Europe has an enormous volume, both in the tourism and logistics sectors. As a result, there are more and more environmental zones and measures to improve air quality at the (air) ports of Europe. But mostly only the cars are affected.
The Green-Zones Guide
Frankfurt: City toll only the beginning?
The traffic turnaround in Germany is only making slow progress. In order to reduce traffic in Frankfurt's city centre, a city toll is now to be introduced. This should also avert the threat of diesel driving bans.
E-fuels better than batteries?
Bill Gates has spoken out in favour of alternative fuels, which Porsche, among others, is also researching. Especially for larger vehicles and other means of transport such as ships and aeroplanes, he says, the battery-powered way is wrong.