Paris is banning half of private cars on the road in an attempt to cut air pollution and limit the choking smog.
Beginning Monday, only cars with odd-numbered license plates will be seen in the city and surrounding towns of the City of Light. Public vehicles such as taxis, ambulance and electric cars are also exempted from the ban, according to the USA Today. The move follows one year after the city implemented a similar measure to reduce air pollution.
"I am delighted the state has agreed to put in place a partial driving ban on Monday, which I have been requesting for several days," Paris city mayor Anne Hidalgo said Saturday on Twitter.
The French government initiated the ban after Paris' air pollution level became worse than Delhi, India and Peking, China this week. The air quality index number of the city went above the critical level and was considered "harmful" on Wednesday, FRANCE 24 reported.
Monday is just a dry-run. If the air quality does not improve, then the authorities plan to allow the even-numbered cars to be on the road on Tuesday, according to The Independent.
However, banning one of two private cars on the road is a short-term solution. The authorities are thinking of gradually banning some car models that contribute most to air pollution and upgrade the public transport system as a long-term solution.
Experts blamed the city smog on the weather and the large number of diesel cars on the road.
"We need long-term solutions including extra charges on heavy goods vehicles which the government backtracked from implementing last year," FNAUT spokesman Fabrice Michel told FRANCE 24. He is referring to the 2014 “Ecotax” proposal that plans to fine people or companies to pay the government for harming the environment.
"Paris also needs a congestion charge inside the city," he added. "This would reduce circulation and raise revenue. But all our politicians seem to do is wait for the rain and when it doesn't come, they blame the weather for their failings."
