Date Published: 20/01/2022

ARCHIVED - DGT introduces low emission zones for all large towns in Spain

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

From next year, all Spanish towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants will have mandatory low-emission zones

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - DGT introduces low emission zones for all large towns in Spain

In an effort to combat environmental and acoustic pollution in cities throughout Spain, from 2023 all urban areas with more than 50,000 inhabitants will be obliged to set up a restricted traffic zone to reduce emissions, with special emphasis on town centres. In these pollution-free areas, only vehicles certified as low-emission will be permitted to circulate.

Back in September 2021, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) started using a road sign in larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid that marks the perimeter of the Low Emissions Zones or ZBE, and the system will begin to be rolled out in other areas from this year.

Before that, in June, the DGT published an instruction on Low Emission Zones and other regulations for vehicle use in urban areas, laying the foundation for this new measure, and it is hoped that after installing the signs in larger cities, drivers will know how to identify these low-emission areas more quickly and easily.

In addition, the introduction of this road sign means that all Spanish cities will be subject to the same traffic regulations.

The DGT intends the low-emission zones to contribute to the improvement of air quality and the health of people living in Spanish cities, in addition to reinforcing its commitment to the fight against climate change and noise pollution.

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Images: DGT

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