Crit’air vignettes, pollution… The low-emission zone is coming to Le Havre: what you need to know

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It is now an obligation. As in Rouen (Seine-Maritime), the urban community Le Havre Seine Métropole will have to set up its low emissions zone (ZFE). But unlike its seinomarine neighbor, it will be less restrictive.

No Crit’air 4 or 5 stickers prohibited in the Océane city, only “unclassified” vehicles. That is to say, cars registered on January 1, 1997 as well as utility vehicles and trucks registered in October 1997. Which represents, according to Pascal Leprettre, vice-president in charge of mobility, “approximately 500 cars and 100 heavy goods vehicles in the urban community.

Less than 1% of the vehicle fleet concerned

Suffice it to say, not much. The ZFE will concern less than 1% of the vehicle fleet of the urban community. If it is less restrictive than that of Rouen, it is notably thanks to the air quality measurements in Le Havre.

The measured thresholds are regulatory (which was not the case at the start in Rouen) and do not represent “an immediate public health emergency”, supports Pascal Leprettre. This allowed the urban community not to include Crit’air 4 and 5 in their restrictions for the moment.

In addition, the intercommunity was able to define the perimeter of this ZFE. In this case, it will include the town of Le Havre, Sainte-Adresse and a small part of Octeville and Fontaine-la-Mallet.

No fines at the start

It will be officially implemented January 1, 2025 and will be effective 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. But “we will have to wait a few weeks for it to really be there,” adds the vice-president. The signage will not be installed until around February.

And the elected official insists on his desire to “first provide education” for those who do not respect the ZFE. It will obviously be obligatory to bring a Crit’air stickereven when his vehicle is not affected by the ban. But no fine will be distributed “in the first months,” reassures Pascal Leprettre.

Fight against pollution

What is the point of this EPZ? “We don’t do this to annoy people,” explains the vice-president of the urban community. The ZFE is one of the initiatives put in place to fight against pollution and improve the health of residents. »

To help change vehicles and comply, the urban community will soon put in place financial aid. For example, 2,000 euros for the purchase of a minimum Crit’air 3 vehicle (private or utility vehicle).

Although it may be considered by some to be not very restrictive, this ZFE will have to evolve. By 2030“we will take stock again to find out where we are”. And then, the restriction will perhaps extend to vehicles classified Crit’air 4 and 5.

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