Vehicles may be getting cleaner due to stricter emissions regulations, but there are still plenty in circulation to induce a smog problem.
The last case is Milan’s authorities banning cars and motorcycles. The restriction on cars and motorcycles was set for three days, on December 28, 29 and 30, between 10am and 4pm, during which people are not allowed to drive or ride in the Italian city.
In order to support transport by other means, authorities have introduced a special all-day “anti-smog” public transport ticket, which costs €1.50 ($1.65).
“In these days of major emergency we cannot remain indifferent“, Milan’s mayor Giuliano Pisapiain told BBC.
That’s not all: traditional firework displays might be banned, too, after the administration of the Lombardy region appealed to local officials.
This isn’t the first time when Lombardy’s capital resorts to this measure – on a Sunday, four years ago, all traffic was restricted from the city’s streets for 10 hours.
The Italian town was named Europe’s most polluted city back in 2008 and it has the worst smog problem on the continent.
The limited traffic decision was also enforced by Rome on several occasions and Spain’s Barcelona region, which reduced the speed limit to 90 km/h (56 mph) last week, while in Madrid vehicles were banned from parking in the center.
China has recently issued a “Red Alert” of dangerous smog levels for Beijing, where cars can only be driven on alternate days, depending on their odd or even license plates numbers.
In India, things aren’t that bright either after the New Delhi Supreme Court has ordered a temporary ban on the sale of diesel cars.