Bad news for those who had anticipated, good news for others… The roadmap for low-emission zones (EPZ) has just been lightened. The interministerial committee which met on Monday amply revised the objectives downwards for the years to come, based on a air quality which is improving. Only some of the agglomerations experiencing overruns of the regulatory thresholds will have to maintain their schedule. This is the case of Paris, Rouen, Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg.
For the others, as in Toulouse, the project is being slowed down. The mayor of Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc, bearer of the ZFE report on “25 proposals for combining ecological transition and social justice” seems to have been listened to by Christophe Béchu, Minister for Ecological and Solidarity Transition. Notable changes for Toulouse residents who have been living in ZFE since March 1, 2022.
The Crit-Air 3 under cover
First of all, we no longer speak of “ZFE territory” but of “territory of vigilance” which now concerns 37 agglomerations of more than 150,000 inhabitants. They therefore no longer have any obligation to tighten their current restrictions, but they can tighten their access if they wish. They will still have to comply with the obligation to restrict unclassified vehicles from January 1, 2025.
In Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc – if the Metropolis votes in this direction – will not prohibit, as planned, Crit’Air 3 vehicles on January 1, 2024. They will be able to continue to drive in this “territory of vigilance” unless “over a period of five years, three years exceed the authorized threshold. In these cases, we activate the project to ban these cars, ”reports the president of the Metropolis. Good news for the 44,000 Crit’Air 3 vehicles in the city’s rolling stock (16%).
So, concretely, whether you have a Crit’Air 1, 2, or even 3 sticker, you can drive around, there is nothing left to see.
What does not change
If these ZFEs lighten up, it is “not necessarily a break”. “We will continue to bring it to life. But the step was too high and it was going too fast. In reality, we can therefore be less overwhelmed. But we are not interrupting the movement, ”says the mayor of Toulouse. Thus, many measures remain in place. First of all, Crit’Air 4 and 5 vehicles are already and always prohibited. The Petit Rouleur pass is also maintained for the owners of the latter. The metropolis is also working to speed up the authorization times for these passes.
State and metropolitan aid will continue to be paid to help users change vehicles: conversion bonus, ecological bonus, social leasing, etc. “Above all, we must not slow down the renewal of vehicles. The more recent transport we have, the less pollution there will be in the air, ”responds the first city councilor to those who are flabbergasted after having urgently changed cars before the end of the Crit’Air 3 ban. .
Finally, as things stand, what won’t happen anytime soon are “the technology(ies) that will be used for thumbnail detection. Nothing is decided yet”, confirms Jean-Luc Moudenc. Attention, verbalizations are still possible, on a case-by-case basis.