01_2017 In the Parliament a new law on smog
While the main cause of smog is considered burning in household stoves, obsolete vehicles fleet also has its contribution to the emissions of harmful substances. To minimize the effects of pollution from transport, in the Parliament for the first reading is waiting a bill to amend the Act - Environmental Protection Law and the Law - the Law on road traffic. The project concerns the possibility of creating in the 16 largest Polish cities areas of limited or forbidden emissions resulting from the traffic of vehicles by introducing restrictions or bans entry to the zone for vehicles not complying with Euro norm standards.
The level of emission from transport in Poland results from the age structure of the vehicles. Only 1.79% of all passenger cars meet the latest emission standard Euro 6 while the Euro 5 complies with 8.49%.
Establishing such zones will remain in the responsibility of the city council with a population of over 200,000, which now qualifies the 16 largest cities in Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, Katowice, Bialystok, Gdynia, Czestochowa, Radom, Sosnowiec, Torun).
However, the possibility of introducing the restricted zone or forbidden emissions will not be dependent on exceeding permissible levels of pollutants in the air. Indeed, as experience shows - the introduction of such restrictions - beyond the reduction of emissions from motor vehicles - will also, among others, reducing the number of accidents and reduce the time losses caused by overcrowded.
The resolution of the municipal council issued on the basis of this provision will have to specify the territorial scope zone, being in force the restrictions, prohibitions and regulations established in connection with the requirements for the emission of pollutants from the exhaust gases.
The designated area covered by the zone should take into account the need to ensure that transit traffic.
In the resolution will also be possible to introduce exemptions under the prohibitions or injunctions. These exemptions may concern among other vehicles belonging to residents, as well as emergency vehicles, public service vehicles, taxis, vehicles of disabled persons, vehicles or historical monuments.
Vehicle put into traffic in the zone will be able to move in it only with the mark/a label confirming the emission standard. Method of validating vehicle emission standard, label and the way of its placement in a vehicle, entities issuing labeling and the amount of fees for the issue of labeling will be regulated by the regulation of the Minister responsible for transport.
