Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) wants to continue to avoid a stricter, nationwide diesel driving ban in Munich. If the city loses the clean air case before the Bavarian Administrative Court, he will advocate for a selective driving ban on the Middle Ring, the mayor announced at an event organized by the Munich Press Club. He named the route from the junction of the Lindau Autobahn A96 to Landshuter Allee as a possible section for even stricter emissions regulations; diesel cars with emissions standards 4 and 5 could therefore be affected.
The city had originally decided on a driving ban for diesel vehicles in its air pollution control plan, which it wanted to implement in three stages. The reason for this was a lawsuit brought by German Environmental Aid and the German Transport Club, with which the two associations wanted to ensure that the health of Munich residents was no longer endangered by nitrogen dioxide emissions. On Landshuter Allee, the permitted annual average limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air has been violated for a long time.
That’s why the city put the first stage of the driving ban into effect on February 1, 2023. Diesel vehicles with Euronorm 4 and worse are no longer allowed to operate within or on the Middle Ring. The second stage for Euronorm 5 vehicles was supposed to take effect on October 1, 2023, but the city council suspended it due to a positive air forecast. However, this was not fulfilled and the two associations are now suing to enforce the further bans. In an oral hearing last Thursday it was already clear that the judges could view this favorably. The verdict is not expected until this week because the judges wanted to see further documents.
“I fear that the postponement does not mean anything good for drivers,” said Reiter in the press club. There will probably be a ruling that will force the city to take action. “I am a convinced democrat and will implement court rulings, but I will also respect the principle of proportionality,” he said. Therefore, the second stage could not be implemented across the board, but only on the section on the Middle Ring. “I hate that because of course the cars will go somewhere else,” added Reiter. But he will work for a solution that affects fewer drivers. “That’s the driving ban. Let’s see what the majority in the city council will do.”