Apart from France, 13 European countries have implemented traffic restrictions in cities based on car registration dates.
The criteria for these ZFEs, called “low emission zones” in English, differ from one country to another, and even from one city to another in certain countries.
Implementation, effect on air pollution and health, replacement of cars or shift to public transport: in a report, Ademe takes stock of the main results.
If in France the restrictions linked to “low emission zones” vary from one city to another – Paris, Montpellier, Lyon, Grenoble just allow access for Crit'Air 3 vehicles within the perimeter of their ZFE -, our European neighbors experience the same heterogeneity. Restrictions vary from one country to another, as do exceptions and support measures, and the systems also differ within the same country.
In a report published last year, Ademe, the ecological transition agency of the French State, analyzes the conditions of implementation and the effects of ZFEs among our European neighbors, called in English “low emission zones” (LEZ). The criterion used to define these LEZs is that of the establishment of restrictions for the most polluting vehicles aimed at reducing air pollution from particles and nitrogen oxides.
Overview of the main lessons.
1 – The implementation of LEZs in Europe
Ademe has identified 315 LEZs in 14 European countries (including France): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Scotland, Spain, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic and Sweden.
Sweden is the first European country to have established LEZs: the cities of Gothenburg, Malmö and Stockholm deployed “environmental zones” in 1996 which targeted diesel trucks and coaches weighing more than 3.5 tonnes. Next came the northern regions of Italy in 2005, the Netherlands in 2007 then Berlin and London in 2008.
2 – Conditions of application of LEZ
In all the countries concerned, the restrictions were, as in France, progressive, and exemptions put in place.
If in Paris, 22 types of vehicles (linked to professions, such as market cars) were excluded from the system put in place on January 1, among our European neighbors, other reasons led to exemptions.
In Germany, for example, a country which has focused on retrofitting, namely the modernization of a diesel vehicle with a particle reduction system, exemptions are issued in the event of technical impossibility of doing so.
In Scotland, owners of cars affected by the restriction are exempt if they are in receipt of means-tested welfare benefits.
In Italy, the same goes for those who carpool, with at least three people in their vehicle.
In Greece, the measure does not apply during strikes; and in Italy, in the event of unforeseen and exceptional events of a meteorological and social nature.
In Denmark, exemptions are possible if it is an occasional journey, for example when going to a consultation in a hospital. In Belgium, you are exempt if the car travels less than 3,000 km per year.
Up to 2180 euros fine in Austria
In some countries, restrictions also concern vehicles registered abroad: in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, for example.
As for fines, the amounts vary greatly: in France, it is 68 euros for private vehicles and 135 euros for heavy goods vehicles and public transport, the lowest amount among all European countries.
So, in Germany and Greece, the fine is 100 euros. In Brussels, this amount increases to 350 euros. In Madrid, you have to pay 200 euros in the event of an infraction, while in Austria, this amount is between 80 and 2180 euros! Ditto in London where the fine can go up to 1150 euros.
3 – Aid and support for drivers
As in France, the deployment of LEZs is accompanied by various aid and support systems. Because the measure has a strong social impact: it is mainly low-income households who own the most polluting cars, with financial difficulties in renewing their vehicle and need to travel by car.
In Madrid, the aid is 6,000 euros for any purchase of a zero-emission vehicle: an amount increased by 10% under certain conditions (person with reduced mobility, large families, etc.). In Belgium, a unique digital platform makes it easy to benefit from financial assistance to change cars.
Depending on the city, drivers have not adapted in the same way to these restrictions, but a generality has been observed: very often, people affected by the system and living in the LEZ have replaced their car with a cleaner model, when people living outside the zone preferred to use public transport or bicycles to get to the LEZ.
4 – What are the results on air quality?
In its report, Ademe listed studies published in Europe on the impact of LEZs on air quality and health. But the public establishment warns of the limits of these studies, for several reasons: first, it is difficult to compare one LEZ to another, as the application criteria, exemptions and perimeters differ from one city to another.
Then, the air is certainly polluted by cars, but also by urban heating and by factories and industries: therefore any reduction or increase in certain thresholds cannot be explained by the sole impact of cars on the quality of air. air. Finally, the widespread deployment in Europe of particle filters on diesel cars, with its obligation since 2011, also has an impact on air quality.
Apart from these reservations, the figures are interesting:
— in London, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) decreased by 20% between 2010 and 2022, and even by 44% in central London.
— in Munich, the level of particles in the air fell by 14.8%; and 10.5% in Berlin. In both cities, the implementation of the LEZ was accompanied by a ban on the transit of heavy goods vehicles, which obviously contributed to these results.
5 – What are the impacts on health?
Ademe reports several studies on the effects on health, and specifies that most conclude that there is a reduction in the prevalence of certain pathologies, such as circulatory and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract. This health impact has been quantified in France for the Ile-de-France region by the Regional Health Observatory: the reduction in mortality linked to the establishment of the ZFE saves between 0.76 and 2.36 billion euros. euros depending on the scenarios, and the economic gains linked to the reduction in asthma save between 2.3 and 8.3 million euros.
Health effects are increased if traffic decreases. But does this system have an impact on the number of cars on the road? In Belgium, thanks to a camera system to observe compliance with the LEZ, data is available: between the 3rd quarter of 2018 and the last quarter of 2021, the share of all vehicles prohibited in 2021 increased from 6% to 0.2%.
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ZFE: what effects on air pollution and health?
Ademe reports that the effect on traffic is greater when the implementation of the LEZ is accompanied by an urban toll, as in Madrid, London and Stockholm. Thus, in London, with a toll of around 13 euros to travel from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the LEZ, traffic decreased by 4% in this area between 2019 and 2022.
