Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Maine-et-Loire/Angers ZPAd - France
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 08-11-2017
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 Crit´Air badge and vehicles with insufficient Crit´Air badge class, depending on the level and duration of the air pollution peak.
Not allowed to drive (permanently): Information currently unavailable
Fines: 68-375 Euro.
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The prefectural order concerns the entire Department of Maine-et-Loire. In case of pollution peak, a specific notification will define the borders of the activated zone and the implemented restrictions. The A11, A84, A85 and N162 highways within the Department of Maine-et-Loire may be affected.
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.
Despite over 300 environmental zones: EU takes Italy to court
The European Court of Justice has upheld the European Commission's action, demanding that Italy act more quickly to reduce air pollution.
Role model? Government fully committed to diesel
The state government in Lower Saxony is preaching traffic turnaround and climate protection - and continues to rely on heavy diesel limousines.
It's crazy: Wiesbaden prefers a driving ban to public transport
In the referendum, the citizens clearly voted against the construction of the City-Bahn and, according to Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende (SPD), missed a century's chance of a traffic turnaround.
Mobility turnaround in the Mediterranean: VW plans revolutionary e-car island
Traffic on Astypalea is to become completely climate-neutral and electric. The island will thus become a pioneer for the smart city of tomorrow.
France's fight against winter smog
In the Arve valley, the speed limit is reduced by up to 40 km/h. Three sections of motorway are affected by the measures. The aim is to avoid the threat of air pollution and the associated driving bans.
VW Dieselgate 2.0 - Are you also affected?
Volkswagen - the name says it all: a car for the people from a good traditional German company. When in the 1930s the first VW Beetles and later the vans hit the streets, the people were thrilled. The cars accompanied us on road trips and holidays, gave us a feeling of freedom and reliability. And that for decades.
Citizen Science Festival 2020: Green Zones was there!
Research and sustainable development were the focus of this year's Citizen Science Festival 2020 at the Kulturbrauerei in Berlin. Various international and national citizen research projects were presented, among others on the topics of air quality, light pollution and plastic avoidance.
France 2021: radically more low emission zones
In the new year, various low emission zones will come into force in France, permanently banning older burners from city centres. This increases the risk of fines in the impenetrable system of permanent and temporary low emission zones.
Poor air quality in Germany: Bavaria and Hamburg threaten new driving bans
The index, which assesses transport in terms of environment, health and infrastructure, shows Bavaria to be clearly catastrophic in almost all aspects. Although Hamburg is making efforts in climate protection, it must do much more for the health of its citizens.
Motorcycle scoop: Greens plan Germany-wide noise protection zone!
The motion submitted to the Bundestag is intended to prevent driving bans, but the new regulations would mean the end for thousands of motorbikes.