Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Gers/Auch ZPAd - France
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 18-09-2017
Type of environmental zone: Zone of air protection, 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 badge and vehicles with insufficient badge class, depending on the level and duration of the air pollution peak.
Not allowed to drive (permanently): Information currently unavailable
Fines: 68-450 €
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The zone covers theoretically the entire Department of Gers. In case of pollution peak, a specific release will define the borders of the activated zone and the implemented restrictions. The possible affected highways in the Department of Gers are the N21 and N124.
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 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.
What are the exemptions in the environmental zones?
In order to reduce air pollution, stickers and registrations can only be issued to vehicles that comply with the specified emission standards. However, there are various exceptions to the sticker and registration requirement. As with all other rules in the environmental zones, these vary greatly from country to country.
E-cars in floods
Due to the flood disasters in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, the question arises whether e-cars are not roadworthy in floods compared to combustion cars, because the electrics could short-circuit in the water and sparks could fly. According to experts, this is nonsense. Electric cars even have an advantage over combustion cars.
Environmental zones: Double trouble for border crossers
Different stickers for different countries - in the border region between France and Germany this is currently particularly annoying. From the beginning of next year, Strasbourg will introduce a permanent low emission zone in which at least the French category 4 sticker will be required. German commuters will also have to prepare themselves for this.
Fog against particulate matter
In the fight against ultra-fine dust, Amsterdam Airport wants to use fog to trap the particles and make them sink to the ground. The small particles produced by the ground movement of aircraft are particularly harmful to health because they can penetrate far into the lungs. But stronger fuel regulation would also help.
Caravanning has future problems
Travelling with motorhomes and caravans is becoming more and more restricted in Europe. It is not only the increasingly strict rules in the environmental zones that worry campers, but also the forced switch to electric drive. Because the heavy trailers consume too much energy and therefore drastically reduce the range of e-cars. Dethleffs is already working on a solution - but this means considerable costs for holidaymakers.
Supercharger for all
Tesla wants to open its charging stations to all vehicles. The charging stations of the American e-car pioneer are far superior to other models in terms of both number of units and technology. Thanks to Tesla, the network of charging stations would take an enormous leap forward. It is not yet clear what the company will get out of this and how it will be technically possible to implement it.
Spain: new low emission zones, new signs
By 2023, many cities in Spain will have to introduce low emission zones by law. Both domestic and foreign vehicles are affected. A new traffic sign is now to mark the environmental zones in a uniform and clearly recognisable way.
Climate protection for the railways at last?
Because of the German government's climate targets, traffic in Germany must be significantly reduced in the coming years. Transport Minister Scheuer therefore wants a railway reform that puts climate protection first. This is urgently needed. More digitalisation and modern infrastructure are to contribute to the turnaround.
Electrification of the EU not "Fit for 55"
From 2035, there are to be no more new cars with combustion engines in the EU. In addition, CO2 emissions from transport are to be reduced by 55 percent below today's level by 2030. But many EU countries are lagging miles behind in terms of electrification. The goal seems utopian.
How much are the penalties for the environmental zones?
Entering the European environmental zones without a sticker and registration can be expensive. Here is an overview of the fines and why it pays to enter the environmental zones well informed and with the correct sticker.