The metropolises of Greater Paris, Lyon, Montpellier and Grenoble will limit the circulation of vehicles with the Crit’Air 3 label from January 1, that is, diesel vehicles registered before 2011 and gasoline vehicles registered before 2006.
In Greater Paris, this decision represents around 422,000 private vehicles and 59,000 professionals, according to a study by the Parisian Urban Planning Workshop (Apur) from 2023. But the fines (68 euros flat rate) are not immediate: l All Crit ‘Air Three vehicles will be exempt from inspection for one year in Paris. And, in general, adequate radars should not arrive until 2026 to automate control and sanctions.
Numerous exemptions
Low Emission Zones (ZFE) were established by the Mobility Guidance Law in 2019 and later reinforced by the Climate Law of 2021. Widespread in Europe, where air quality is degrading, they aim to encourage motorists to buy less polluting, hybrid or electric vehicles. or use public transport and so-called “soft” modes of transport. The metropolises of Paris and Lyon have been forced to restrict the circulation of Crit’Air 3 classified cars due to the poor quality of their air.
The metropolises of Montpellier and Grenoble have decided, for their part, to impose a restriction on the circulation of Crit’Air 3 vehicles from January 1, without being obliged to do so immediately. These metropolises have established numerous exemptions (disabled people, shift workers, etc.) and purchasing aid to soften the effect of these restrictions, although their critics denounce “high exclusion” areas that penalize the poorest families.
Improved air quality
To date, twelve urban areas have already created EPZs, including Aix-Marseille-Provence, Nice, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Reims, Rouen, Saint-Etienne and Clermont-Ferrand. Since January 1, 2024, all of them have already imposed total bans on unclassified vehicles (registered before 1997, except collectors) and unclassified light utility vehicles (registered before September 30, 1997).
Most have also implemented driving schedules or total bans for vehicles classified Crit’Air 4 and 5 (diesel cars registered before 2006). Until the beginning of this year, it was expected that Marseille, Strasbourg and Rouen would have to restrict, like Paris and Lyon, the circulation of Crit’Air 3 cars in 2025, but the Ministry of Ecological Transition announced in March that they would not do so. . They no longer had this obligation, due to the improvement in air quality.
Source: BFM TV
