A number of German cities are planning to limit cars in their centres to reduce smog levels, in accordance with a law on particulate emissions and smog build-up passed in Germany in March 2007 (Feinstaubverordnung).
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Many cities experienced smog levels above permitted levels on average during 2007, although, according to the German press agency, dpa, they were down on the previous year’s levels. The national environment ministry told dpa that the weather has made a difference, but another contributing factor has been the increased uptake of retrofit diesel particulate filters and the falling number of so-called ‘stinker’ cars – high polluters that are now being replaced by newer, cleaner models.
Many towns want to introduce eco-zones with restrictions on high-polluting vehicles, reported dpa. From 1 January three towns, Berlin, Cologne and Hanover, have introduced bans on cars that don’t have an eco plaque displayed on the windscreen. Only the most polluting vehicles do not qualify for a plaque, but there are three colours of plaque, red, amber and green, and restrictions will eventually become increasingly strict so that only green plaque vehicles will be permitted in the zone from January 2010.
Other towns are planning to introduce similar zones, including Bochum, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt later this year.
