A report presented by the Senate recommends promoting the adoption of low-emission mobility zones (ZFE-m), which aim to phase out the most polluting vehicles from large urban areas, relax the schedule of restrictions and strengthen assistance for the purchase of “clean” vehicles.

According to the summary of this report, seen by AFP, m-ZFEs face resistance and misunderstanding from the local authorities responsible for their creation, as well as users, both individuals and professionals, whose daily journeys will be affected by the traffic restrictions.

The offer of alternative transport is considered insufficient

Senator Philippe Tabaro (LR), the report’s rapporteur, highlights the lack of support from the state, the offer of alternative transport instead of the car “insufficient” and the high cost of clean vehicles, as he noted during a Senate press conference.

After the creation of 11 ZFE-m in 2019, the law on climate and sustainability by 2021 envisages their generalization in 43 French agglomerations with more than 150,000 inhabitants by 31 December 2024.

According to Santé Publique France, the zones aim to improve air quality and reduce emissions of fine particles, which cause respiratory illnesses and 40,000 deaths a year.

Among the nine proposals presented to the Senate Committee on Regional Planning and Sustainable Development, the senator believes it is important to allow communities delay the ban on Crit’air 3 aircraft until 2030 at the latest.

The ban is currently set to go into effect on January 1, 2025, after Crit’air 4 vehicles are banned on January 1, 2024. According to the senator, more than a third of the vehicles (that’s 13 million cars) that cross major metropolitan areas every day for a year and a half are banned year of risk “create social and territorial divisions”.

The report gives the example of the 3rd arrondissement of Marseille, a very poor area where “52% of vehicles have Crit’air class 3, 4 or 5” and will be disqualified from driving for one and a half years.

More targeted help?

During questions to the government in the Senate, the Minister of Environmental Transition, Christophe Bechaux, said that the ban on Crit’air 3 vehicles will only affect agglomerations that exceed air quality thresholds, and currently only five agglomerations can be in this situation.

Philip Tabaro also asks increase in assistance for the purchase of environmentally friendly cars, including used onesprimarily for low-income households or those who live outside the ZEP but have to travel there for work.

It also recommends the creation of an alternative transport offer, such as express buses or the city’s RER, to combat individual car use.