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PARIS, France - Thousands of cars have been banned from Parisian roads today (March 17 2014) as the city tries to reduce dangerous pollution levels by re-introducing alternating driving days after nearly 20 years.
The radical move has seen 700 police officers deployed to man 60 checkpoints across the French capital to ensure that only cars whose registration plate ends with an odd number (1,3,5,7,9) are moving on the streets and freeways.
Electric and hybrid cars will be exempted from the ban as well as any vehicle carrying three or more people.
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Parking for even-numbered cars (0,2,4,6,8), wherever they might be standing, will be free, city hall said, calling on residents to consult car-pooling or car-sharing sites to work out their travel plans.
The situation will be reviewed daily, with odd numbers potentially banned on Tuesday March 18 2014.
The government made the announcement on Saturday (March 15) after pollution particulates in the air exceeded safe levels for five consecutive days. All public transport was made free over the weekend to persuade people to leave their cars at home and it will remain free as long as alternate driving days remain in force.
Ecology minister Philippe Martin said he understood "the difficulties, irritation and even anger" over the move but added: "We just had to take this decision."
Martin said similar measures in 1997 "had yielded results" adding he hoped that the number of vehicles on the roads would be "significantly lower".
France's Automobile Club Association which has 760 000 members, denounced the move as "hasty, ineffective" and "bound to lead to chaos".
ACA head Didier Bollecker said:"This measure had no effect in any country where it was introduced."
The radical move has seen 700 police officers deployed to man 60 checkpoints across the French capital to ensure that only cars whose registration plate ends with an odd number (1,3,5,7,9) are moving on the streets and freeways.
Electric and hybrid cars will be exempted from the ban as well as any vehicle carrying three or more people.
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Parking for even-numbered cars (0,2,4,6,8), wherever they might be standing, will be free, city hall said, calling on residents to consult car-pooling or car-sharing sites to work out their travel plans.
The situation will be reviewed daily, with odd numbers potentially banned on Tuesday March 18 2014.
The government made the announcement on Saturday (March 15) after pollution particulates in the air exceeded safe levels for five consecutive days. All public transport was made free over the weekend to persuade people to leave their cars at home and it will remain free as long as alternate driving days remain in force.
Ecology minister Philippe Martin said he understood "the difficulties, irritation and even anger" over the move but added: "We just had to take this decision."
Martin said similar measures in 1997 "had yielded results" adding he hoped that the number of vehicles on the roads would be "significantly lower".
France's Automobile Club Association which has 760 000 members, denounced the move as "hasty, ineffective" and "bound to lead to chaos".
ACA head Didier Bollecker said:"This measure had no effect in any country where it was introduced."
