For the past week, the inhabitants of Ile-de-France have been affected by a serious peak in pollution which has two particularities: a particularly long duration and a level of fine particles very high.
As the first anti-pollution measures, the Prefect of Police decided on Friday to bypass transit heavy goods vehicles and to lower the maximum authorized speed on major roads. But that was not enough to lower the pollution rate significantly. The Prefect therefore decided to set up alternate circulation as of Tuesday.
Only vehicles ending with an even number
Today, it is vehicles with registration plates ending in an even number that will be able to circulate in Paris and in the 22 towns of the small crown.
If the measure is repeated tomorrow (this renewal is decided according to the evolution of the rate of particles in the air), it will then be the turn of odd-numbered vehicles.
To read also: Infographic: what is a pollution peak
“I welcome this decision, which my team and I called for. The Prefect of Police thus hears the appeal of local elected officials and fully assumes his responsibilities in the fight against pollution, in a very health concernParisians and Ile-de-France residents “, said the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo in a press release.
To date, alternating traffic has only been used three times: in October 1997, in March 2014 and in March 2015. And for the moment, only in Paris and its inner suburbs.
To read also: Pollution in Paris, it’s not pretty pretty
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