Geneva plans to ban polluting vehicles

The canton’s government is working on a plan to ban the most polluting vehicles from the city centre, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève.

The project, accepted by the parliamentary transport commission, could result in a ban on certain vehicles entering the city centre on days of high air pollution. The restrictions would apply to large parts of Geneva, Carouge and certain parts of Lancy.

As the air pollution rises, more and more vehicles would be progressively banned. And, when air pollution reaches a certain level, public transport would be free.

The system would require cars entering the city to bear a special sticker showing the vehicle’s detailed emissions based on the Euro emissions standards.

In addition, speeds on nearby stretches of motorway would be reduced to 80km/h.

Any driver entering the city centre without the correct sticker or exceeding speed limits would face fines of up to CHF 300.

London already restricts high-pollution vehicles entering certain central city areas. There, vehicles with emission ratings worse than Euro 4, if petrol powered, and Euro 6 if diesel powered, must pay to enter the central city zone.

More on this:
Tribune de Genève article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.