Environmental Zones in
Europe
June 2002, Stockholm
Trendsetter Report No 2002:1
Trendsetter Internal Deliverable No
5.4.1 and 5.4.2
Summary
This report looks at Environmental Zones, i.e. ways to restrict traffic for some types of vehicles in
specific areas in Europe. In Sweden, we use the term Environmental Zone. Other European
countries sometimes use Low Emission Zone (LEZ) or Clear Zone.
Part 1 deals with five different methods to increase compliance withregulations relating to
environmental zones in five different cities. The methods were studied and discussed in the context
of how suitable they would be for Stockholm.
The different types of environmental zones described in the study:
• Prohibited zone with demands on the age of the vehicle combined with a weight limit
• Prohibited zone with demands on utilization of loading capacity for vehicles with a weight
over a special limit
• Prohibited zone for vehicles with a weight (or length) over a special limit
• Reduced accessibility for traffic
• Access control to defined area during a special time of the day
The purpose of Part2 of this study was to collect information and evaluate methods used in other
European cities, to increase compliance with regulations relating to environmental zones. Special
attention has been given to methods aiming at better information to users, and alternative penalty
systems those breaking the regulations. The survey included around 30 cities, and 16 of those are
included in the study: Copenhagen, Denmark, Aalborg, Denmark, Athens, Greece, London City,
United Kingdom, London Camden, United Kingdom, Nottingham, United Kingdom, Naples, Italy,
Bologna, Italy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Maastricht, The Netherlands, Utrecht, The
Netherlands, Düsseldorf, Germany, Prague, The Czech Republic, Suceava, Rumania, Barcelona,
Spain, and Ghent, Belgium
Some of the findings: information campaigns are essential to make environmental zones accepted
and thus also respected. But fines are also necessary to ensure high compliance.
Issued by: