In total, 517 municipalities within Lombardy will be subject to the restrictions which come into effect on 15 October 2015.
Vehicles that fall under European emission standards Euro 0, Euro 1 or Euro 2, will not be allowed to operate in cities between the hours of 7.30 and 19.30. These categories generally apply to older vehicles that emit a greater range of harmful emissions. The ban, however, does not apply to highways, regional roads and connecting roads.
Lombardy is particularly susceptible to air pollution as a result of its location in a geographic basin, which causes the air to stagnate over cities, and has previously struggled to meet European air quality standards. The geographic situation is further exacerbated by the high number of journeys made by ‘dirty’ cars and trucks.
The mobility restrictions come in addition to bans on the use of certain fuels for heating and cooling purposes.
