LEZ
A LEZ (Low Emission Zone) is a low emission zone. It is a designated and marked area that only allows vehicles that meet specific limited emissions standards to enter. These zones have been created to protect the environment, as well as human health. Heavy pollution, especially in larger cities, is a serious threat to our lives, as well as to fauna and flora. This is why the Low Emission Zone, or LEZ, is treated as a component of air quality improvement measures. The most harmful exhaust gases are mainly particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). It is interesting to note that all over the world map more and more Low Emission Zone areas are being created, which are divided into different types. It is worth knowing detailed information about each of these zones.
Characteristics of Low Emission Zones
It is a fact that over 80% of exhaust fumes emission around the world is caused by busy cities, which leads to serious and justified public concerns regarding air pollution caused by vehicles and traffic jams, as well as noise generation. This is why it was decided to introduce LEZ. These zones aim to reduce pollution wherever it matters. The designated areas help solve air quality problems and also bring huge benefits to society.
Types of low emission zones
Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are mostly permanent, meaning that the bans and rules established within them are in place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, it is also possible to find solutions where restrictions only apply to specific days of the week or times of the day - most often during peak traffic hours. In some cities, you can also see smog alerts informing about dangerous conditions exceeding acceptable air pollution concentrations. It is also worth knowing that low emission zones are located both in large metropolises and increasingly also in small towns.
LEZ control instruments
It is also worth mentioning the control instruments and factors that determine the possibility of entering low emission zones. These are divided into two systems. The first is the sticker system commonly used in Germany and France, which allows for easy, fast, and convenient identification of the emission standard of a given vehicle. The second system is the ANPR, which enables efficient control of all vehicles entering the zone, i.e. automatic recognition of license plates so that they can be registered online in a database, which is less cumbersome than purchasing stickers, especially in the case of tourist traffic. In addition, the ANPR system guarantees much higher efficiency of control and enforcement of fines at the same time. It is used in Italy, the UK, as well as other Scandinavian countries.
Penalties for non-compliance with LEZ obligations
Most Low Emission Zones were introduced to reduce the exhaust fumes produced by older model diesel engines, which are most commonly found in trucks, minibusses, and buses. The penalties for failing to comply in an LEZ can be very high, so it's worth sticking to certain rules to avoid fines. To do so, you will need to meet conditions or pay to enter the zone. An interesting fact is that nowadays most transport companies have a modern fleet of vehicles with ecological fuel consumption parameters, which are registered online, thanks to which the whole entry procedure is quick and efficient and does not involve making any payments. The zones are visibly marked, so it is worth being vigilant.