[TRIBUNE] Low Emission Zones (ZFE), a social challenge

In recent weeks, fake Crit’Air sticker scams have put Low Emission Zones (EPZs) back in the news. Counterfeiters take advantage of the lack of knowledge of French on the device. Beyond attempts to extort bank details, EPZs pose real questions of purchasing power for the French.

Lack of information on Crit’Air and Low Emission Zones

Access to the ZFE depends on the Crit’Air sticker on the vehicle. However, 48% of vehicle owners do not know the Crit’Air of their vehicle and 23% are wrong. Only 29% of vehicle owners can donate their own vehicle’s Crit’Air coupon! An even lower rate for Crit’Air 3, 4 and 5 holders, the first affected by the upcoming traffic bans: only 21% of Crit’Air 3 holders, and 14% of Crit ‘Air 4 and 5 (older vehicles) can give the correct Crit’Air for your vehicle.

The French clearly lack information on the Crit’Air sticker and Low Emission Zones, which, however, must be implemented in 43 French cities… This is revealed by a national study on Low Emission Zones, carried out by the Institute CSA. Only 37% of French people really know about free zones and are able to give the correct definition. This lack of knowledge is explained by the lack of information available, only 31% of the French say they are sufficiently informed about EPZs.

To compensate for this lack of information, it would be necessary to create an EPZ observatory bringing together representatives of the automobile industry, motorists’ associations and public authorities, parliamentarians and elected representatives of the agglomerations in question. Their missions would be to explain the challenges of EPZs, investigate their impacts and propose solutions for the most financially fragile households.

ZFE, a social challenge

Today, 8 out of 10 vehicles affected by EPZs actually travel to the cities in question. Therefore, we wanted to understand how these French could continue to access EPZs, if possible by changing vehicles, meeting the criteria established by each of the 43 agglomerations in question.

37% of vehicle owners affected by a ZFE declare that they can buy a new Crit’Air 1 vehicle, petrol, based on the sale price of the Dacia Sandero, the best-selling new vehicle among French households.

27% of the owners of vehicles impacted by an EPZ declare that they can buy a second-hand Crit’Air 1 vehicle, gasoline, for a value of 3,990 euros. Several million used vehicles of this type would still need to be found, because they will be highly sought after. In addition, prices have already skyrocketed in recent months. As the fateful date for the installation of the EPZ approaches, further price increases are likely to prevent the French from finding a solution to replace their old vehicle, which is banned from entering the EPZ.

36% of vehicle owners affected by an EPZ state that they do not have the budget to replace their vehicle! Worse yet, 14% of all affected French people say they will continue to use their current vehicle in EPZs, knowing they risk a €68 fine per infringement. Therefore, punishment is not the solution.

15 million Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles on our roads

About 15 million Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles circulate on our roads, while they will be prohibited from entering all EPZs. First of all, it is necessary to inform the French about Crit’Air and the vehicles affected by the driving bans in Low Emission Zones.

Then, an ecological bond should be launched to help households scrap a Crit’Air 4 or 5 vehicle. Destroying a Euro 1, 2 or 3 vehicle, old diesel, is contributing to the reduction of CO2 and particulate emissions Fine, harmful to health.

Finally, a quarter of the affected French are willing to switch to local public transport, provided that the frequency and schedule are satisfactory. In rural areas and central cities, it would be necessary to implement electric and then autonomous transport vehicles to create robust public transport networks. These measures would be essential so that the social situation is not unsustainable for millions of French people when the increases in all energies are already hurting them.

Methodological details: Online survey, conducted from February 8 to 22, 2022 with a representative sample of 1,587 French people aged 18 and over, including 968 French people directly affected by EPZs with at least one of their Crit’Air 2 vehicles ( Métropole du Grand Paris and Grand Lyon), 3, 4, 5 and unclassified. For more details, here is the link to the study: