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In Munich there will be no driving bans for Euro 5 diesel in October. The city reports. The air quality has improved, a tightening of the ban is no longer necessary.
Munich – The limit values for nitrogen dioxide have improved significantly in the first half of the year. Therefore, a driving ban for diesel 5 vehicles is no longer necessary. The city reports.
No driving ban for Euro 5 diesel from October: Mayor Dieter Reiter speaks of good news for Munich
“This is really good news for Münchensays OB Dieter Rider. Both the current measurements in the first half of 2023 and the forecasts for the second half of the year show a significant decrease in nitrogen dioxide pollution. “So my forecast has come true: the measures are having an effect and the limit values can be largely complied with.
The people of Munich, who live on busy streets, could now breathe a sigh of relief. The air is getting better and better. “And for all Diesel 5 drivers it means: They can continue to use their vehicles without restrictions, there will be no tightening of the diesel ban in October. I am assuming that the Munich city council will decide accordingly at the end of July.”
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Driving bans for diesel vehicles in Munich: Restrictions for Euro 4 diesel could still tip.
Whether the restrictions for Diesel 4 vehicles must remain can only be decided once the annual average for 2023 has been determined, Reiter continues. “This is expected to be the case in the first quarter of 2024. It is important to me to always keep an eye on the proportionality of the measures and that is exactly what we are doing!”
Euro 4 diesel vehicles have been banned in Munich since February 1 of this year. © Sven Hoppe
The background is that Munich does not comply with the EU limit values of 40 micrograms of nitrogen oxide per cubic meter of air in at least two places, Landshuter Allee and Tegernseer Landstrasse. Among others, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) had therefore sued and won several times. The city had negotiated a compromise with environmentalists to prevent courts from deciding where to impose driving bans. At the end of last year, the city council had passed a phased plan by a majority.
Since February 1st, diesels with the Euro 4 emissions standard are no longer allowed to be used on or within the Mittlerer Ring. But there are exceptions, for example for craftsmen or residents. Should the limit values not fall as a result of this ban, it was planned to also exclude diesel with standard 5 from October. If this measure does not help either, the exemptions should also be dropped in the next stage from April 1, 2024.
These steps no longer seem necessary. According to the Department for Climate and Environmental Protection, the average values on Landshuter Allee are 43 micrograms of nitrogen oxide per cubic meter of air, on Tegernseer Landstrasse 38. In the first quarter there were 44 on Landshuter Allee and 42 on Tegernseer Landstrasse. However, the annual average is decisive.
“Munich will comply with the limit values for air quality for the first time,” says Mayor Katrin Habenschaden (Greens). This will end a breach of the law by the Bavarian state government that has been going on for years. In fact, the responsibility for the air values until 2021 lay with the Free State, which then deferred the issue to the city. “The clean air plan is working,” said habenschaden. “A tightening of the driving bans in the fall would therefore not be proportionate.” Due to the constantly improving air quality, the CSU had repeatedly called for the second stage to be suspended in the fall. The current statement is therefore overdue, says parliamentary group leader Manuel Pretzl. “The result counts for Munich’s diesel drivers: Finally, there is planning security for the owners of Euro 5 vehicles.” In the next step, the entire ban must be removed.
FDP leader Jörg Hoffmann sees it similarly. After all, the pollutants did not decrease because of the driving ban. “Rather, it is a completely normal, predictable development due to the rejuvenation of the vehicle population. More and more diesel vehicles with the Euro 6 standard are driving. Older diesels are gradually being phased out.”
You can find more current news from Munich and the region at tz.de/muenchen.
2023-07-06 07:26:42
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