The air in Stuttgart has gotten better, but not yet good enough. That is why the state capital of Baden-Württemberg is expanding the driving bans. Diesel cars with the Euro 5 emissions standard will no longer be allowed to drive on some routes from next year. So far, the ban only applied to vehicles with Euro 4 and below.
The head of the Ministry of Transport, Uwe Lahl, said: "The previous air pollution control policy has been successful and is leading to sharply falling air pollution. Unfortunately, it is not enough." Residents are exempt from the future route-related driving ban: for example, delivery traffic, craftsmen who have things to do there, and of course local residents, as a spokeswoman for the city explained. Euro 5 diesels with software updates may continue to drive on the corresponding roads for two years.
Tempo 40 zones are being expanded
Large information boards in the Stuttgart city area have already made motorists aware of the changed driving bans on four large entry and exit routes. Parking in the city center is also becoming more expensive, the speed 40 zones are being expanded and additional air filter columns are being installed, as the Ministry of Transport and the Interior Ministry said.
Driving bans have been in force in the state capital for air pollution control since the beginning of the year. With the tightened regulation, the green-black state government is trying to come closer to the goal of meeting the nitrogen oxide limit in the long term. The annual average is 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
