Paris bans cars built before 1997

The City of (hazy) Light has launched its latest drive to reduce air pollution by introducing a ban on vehicles built before 1997.

The rule, which is expected to affect around 10 percent of cars in the city, is set to be enforced against any car registered before 1 January 1997 within the city’s streets from Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm. Classic cars, built more than 30 years ago, will be exempt.

Cars more than 20 years old have been banned from driving in the city of Paris.

Restrictions will become tighter over the decade until 2020, when the only private vehicles allowed to drive in central Paris will be cars registered after 2011 and motorcycles registered after July 2015.

Drivers who ignore the ban will face fines of €35 (R575), with the fine set to rise significantly from the end of 2016.